8-DECEN-5-OLIDE

CAS: 32764-98-0 FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT

8-DECEN-5-OLIDE is a lactone compound used primarily as a flavoring agent characterized by a fruity and floral aromatic profile and evaluated for safety by international expert bodies.

What It Is

8-DECEN-5-OLIDE is an organic lactone compound commonly used in the flavor and fragrance industry for its fruity and floral sensory qualities. Known chemically as a cyclic ester with a ring structure that contributes to its aroma and flavor properties, this compound falls under the technical function of flavoring agent or adjuvant in food applications. Lactones like 8-DECEN-5-OLIDE belong to a class of molecules formed by intramolecular esterification of hydroxy acids, which often display potent aroma characteristics even at trace levels. This compound is identified by the CAS Registry Number 32764-98-0, and it is referenced by various synonyms in scientific and technical contexts, reflecting diverse naming conventions in chemical databases and flavor industry references.

How It Is Made

The synthesis of 8-DECEN-5-OLIDE typically involves chemical routes that form lactone rings from corresponding hydroxy acids or precursor molecules under controlled reaction conditions. Lactone formation often involves dehydration and ring-closure mechanisms facilitated by heat or catalysts in industrial settings. In practice, flavor and fragrance manufacturers may produce this compound via chemical synthesis to ensure consistent quality and purity for formulation use. Because the compound’s organoleptic properties are central to its function, production methods are optimized to minimize impurities that could negatively influence aroma or flavor. Variants of this compound may also be detected in trace amounts in natural sources, although most commercial use relies on synthetic production due to the difficulty of isolating sufficient quantities from botanical matrices.

Why It Is Used In Food

8-DECEN-5-OLIDE is incorporated into food formulations primarily because of its impactful sensory attributes. As a lactone, it contributes creamy, fruity, and floral notes that can enhance the overall flavor profile in a range of products. Flavor chemists leverage such compounds to build complexity, improve sweetness perception, or complement other flavor ingredients in formulations. In adjunct roles, it may help round out the taste profile of beverages, confectionery items, dairy analogs, and other flavored foods. The compound’s compatibility with diverse matrix types allows it to be integrated into both aqueous and fat-containing products, offering flexibility for product developers seeking nuanced aroma characteristics.

Adi Example Calculation

As an illustrative example (not based on a formal ADI number), imagine a hypothetical flavoring compound with an expert conclusion of no safety concern at typical use. If a person consumes multiple flavored products containing small amounts of such a compound over a day, the aggregate exposure would be estimated based on typical concentration levels and food consumption patterns. For instance, if beverage and confectionery products each contribute trace amounts of the compound, the resulting total intake might be in the microgram per kilogram body weight range—orders of magnitude below levels associated with adverse effects in toxicology studies. Such calculations underscore how expert evaluations integrate expected use levels and consumption data to frame safety judgments without assigning a numeric ADI.

Safety And Health Research

Safety assessments for 8-DECEN-5-OLIDE have been conducted by expert bodies focusing on flavoring agents. The JECFA evaluation noted that the compound does not pose safety concerns at levels typically used in food flavoring, drawing on toxicological data and expert judgment regarding exposure and hazard. These expert committees consider endpoints such as general toxicity, metabolic pathways, and intake estimates to form conclusions about safety. While detailed chronic toxicity or reproductive toxicity studies specific to this compound may not be widely available in public databases, the expert conclusion of no safety concern implies data were sufficient to rule out significant risk at expected usage. Regulatory safety research emphasizes exposure-level evaluation rather than detailed mechanistic investigations in consumer contexts, thereby supporting informed decisions about its use in formulations.

Regulatory Status Worldwide

International food safety bodies have evaluated 8-DECEN-5-OLIDE in the context of flavoring use. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) reviewed this compound under its Number 1994 and concluded that there is no safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavoring agent, reflecting an expert assessment of available toxicological data. However, specific regulatory listings in domestic statutes such as United States CFR sections or EU E-number assignments are not directly established through the JECFA evaluation alone. In the United States, compounds like 8-DECEN-5-OLIDE may be included in flavor ingredient inventories, and while a FEMA GRAS assessment exists for similar lactones, formal FDA approval under defined Code of Federal Regulations sections is not explicit for this exact compound. Thus, the regulatory framework relies on combined expert reviews and inventory inclusion practices rather than a prescriptive additive code listing.

Taste And Functional Properties

8-DECEN-5-OLIDE is distinguished by a nuanced blend of sensory impressions often described as fruity, floral, and subtly creamy. In practical terms, these sensory qualities make it valuable in flavor applications where a tropical or fruit-forward profile is desired. From a functional perspective, lactones like this one tend to be moderately hydrophobic, influencing solubility in water and oil phases differently; they generally dissolve more readily in alcohols and lipid-rich environments than in pure water. The molecule’s cyclic ester structure also contributes to stability across various pH ranges experienced in food systems, making it suitable for integration into diverse formulations without significant degradation. Its volatility and aromatic intensity allow impact at low concentrations, which is advantageous for cost-effective flavor enhancement while minimizing potential regulatory exposure concerns.

Acceptable Daily Intake Explained

The concept of an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) helps regulators and product developers understand the level of a substance that can be consumed daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk. For many flavoring agents like 8-DECEN-5-OLIDE, formal numeric ADIs may not be assigned if expert evaluations determine that typical dietary exposure is far below levels of toxicological concern. Instead of a numeric ADI, JECFA’s conclusion of no safety concern at current intake levels serves a similar regulatory function by indicating that routine use in foods does not raise intake-related safety issues. This expert judgment allows industry stakeholders to apply this compound with confidence that standard usage patterns fall within an acceptable safety margin. It is important to recognize that such assessments are made with conservative safety principles and consider population-wide exposure rather than individual cases.

Comparison With Similar Additives

Compared with other lactone flavoring agents, 8-DECEN-5-OLIDE shares sensory characteristics with compounds like gamma-decalactone or other fruity lactones, offering complementary aromatic notes in complex flavor systems. While gamma-decalactone may impart strong peach-like profiles, 8-DECEN-5-OLIDE tends toward a more nuanced fruity-floral impression, making it suitable for applications where subtlety is desired. Other similar flavoring agents, such as delta-decalactone, contribute creamy fruit nuances that can round out overall sensory profiles in dairy analogs or confectionery. In formulation practice, blending multiple lactone-derived flavoring agents allows product developers to achieve balanced sensory effects that leverage each compound’s unique volatility and aroma thresholds. These comparisons help situationally select flavoring mixes that align with specific product goals.

Common Food Applications Narrative

In the food and beverage landscape, 8-DECEN-5-OLIDE is valued for its ability to enhance flavor profiles with subtle fruit and floral characteristics. In beverage formulations, such as soft drinks or flavored waters, small additions of this flavoring can underscore fruity top notes or complement underlying citrus or berry themes. Confectionery products, including gummies and candies, may incorporate lactones like this to introduce creamy or tropical nuances that round out the overall sweet profile. In dairy-based or plant-based dairy alternatives, the compound can contribute depth and complexity, supporting balanced flavor perceptions with hints of blossoms or stone fruit. Culinary sauces and dressings may also benefit from trace use of lactones to elevate aromatic appeal in complex gastronomic applications. Because it functions effectively at low concentrations, product developers often include it as part of multifaceted flavor systems rather than as a dominant ingredient, allowing it to support broader sensory themes without overpowering other components.

Safety & Regulations

FDA

  • Notes: No explicit FDA food additive regulation listing found in CFR; inclusion in flavoring inventories and FEMA GRAS panels does not constitute formal statutory approval.

EFSA

  • Notes: No EFSA specific E-number or ADI numeric value identified in available authoritative sources.

JECFA

  • Year: 2010
  • Notes: JECFA concluded no safety concern at typical intake levels; numeric ADI not specified.
  • Adi Display: No safety concern at current intake levels when used as flavoring agent

Sources

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to share!