Baby Safety / Compounds / 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine

Is 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

What is 2,5-dimethylpyrazine?

Also known as: Pyrazine, 2,5-dimethyl-, 2,5-Dimethyl-1,4-diazine, Ketine, FEMA No. 3272.

IUPAC name
2,5-dimethylpyrazine
CAS number
123-32-0
Molecular formula
C6H8N2
Molecular weight
108.15 g/mol
SMILES
CC1=CN=C(C=N1)C
PubChem CID
31252

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
FDA——
EFSA——

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter 2,5-dimethylpyrazine

  • roasted flavoring
  • coffee flavoring
  • chocolate flavoring

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine:

  • Natural Maillard reaction products (controlled browning)
    Trade-offs: Less precise flavor targeting. Batch variability. Cannot isolate single pyrazine.
    Relative cost: Lower (process-derived)

Frequently asked questions

What products contain 2,5-dimethylpyrazine?

2,5-Dimethylpyrazine appears in: roasted flavoring; coffee flavoring; chocolate flavoring.

See 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine in the baby app

Look up products containing 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 123-32-0 — reference

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →