MEA-Benzoate

What Is It?

Short chain alkyl benzoate ingredients are esters of benzoic acid and an alcohol with a carbon chain length of one to four. These ingredients include Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate. The term “iso” in the name means that the carbon chain of the alcoholAlcohols are a large class of important cosmetic ingredients but only ethanol needs to be denatured to prevent it from being redirected from cosmetic applications to alcoholic beverages. is branched.

Why Is It Used?

Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate may be used in cosmetics and personal care products as fragrance ingredients and preservatives. Methyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate may also be used as solvents.

Follow this link for more information about how preservatives protect cosmetics and personal care products.

More information about fragrances.

Scientific Facts

Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate are fragrant colorless liquids that are not soluble in water.

Safety Information

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate to be used as flavoring agents for direct addition to food. Butyl Benzoate is permitted for use as an indirect food additiveIndirect food additives are additives that may become part of the food in trace amounts due to its packaging, storage or other handling. For example, minute amounts of packaging substances may find their way into foods during storage. as a component of adhesives.

The safety of Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewThe Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was established in 1976 as an independent safety review program for cosmetic ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel consists of independent experts in dermatology, toxicology, pharmacolgy and veterinary medicine. The CIR includes participation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. (CIR) Expert Panel.

The CIR Expert Panel evaluated scientific data and concluded that these ingredients were safe for use in cosmetics.

CIR Safety Review:

The CIR Expert Panel reviewed safety data on Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate as well as data on the components of these ingredients including benzoic acid, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, butyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. Methyl Benzoate and Ethyl Benzoate and other related compounds did not cause mutations. Tested undiluted, Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate and Isopropyl Benzoate were considered mild eye and skin irritants. The short chain alkyl benzoate ingredients were not dermal sensitizers.

Based on the information reviewed, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate were safe as used in cosmetic products.

Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations

The European Union lists salts and esters of benzoic acid (including Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate) as preservatives that may be safety used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 0.5% (See Annex IV).

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_packaging/co0013_en.htm

Resources

Find out more about the regulation of Food Additives by the Food and Drug Administration

Food Ingredients and Packaging: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/default.htm

Food Contact Substances: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/PackagingFCS/default.htm

Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS“GRAS” is an acronym for the phrase Generally Recognized As Safe. Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excluded from the definition of a food additive.): http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/default.htm

Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm

EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/