Baby Safety / Compounds / 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde

Is 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants face elevated exposure to 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde through formula, baby food, and breast milk contamination. Immature hepatic metabolism and higher intake-to-body-weight ratio amplify dose.

What is 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde?

Also known as: m-Hydroxybenzaldehyde, Benzaldehyde, 3-hydroxy-, m-Formylphenol, 3-Formylphenol.

CAS number
100-83-4
Molecular formula
C7H6O2
Molecular weight
122.12 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC(=CC(=C1)O)C=O
PubChem CID
101

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants face elevated exposure to 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde through formula, baby food, and breast milk contamination. Immature hepatic metabolism and higher intake-to-body-weight ratio amplify dose.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters metabolism and increases susceptibility to 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde. Dietary additives consumed during pregnancy cross the placenta; safety margins for adults may not protect the developing fetus.

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

1 regulatory bodyhas classified 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
Unknown——

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 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde

  • Consumer Products — various

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde:

  • N/A — GRAS
    Trade-offs: Alternative food ingredient; efficacy in target food matrix requires validation; regulatory approval status varies by jurisdiction (FDA GRAS, EU Novel Food, Codex Alimentarius); consumer acceptance testing recommended.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde safe for kids?

Infants face elevated exposure to 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde through formula, baby food, and breast milk contamination. Immature hepatic metabolism and higher intake-to-body-weight ratio amplify dose.

What products contain 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde?

3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde appears in: various (Consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde in the baby app

Look up products containing 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. PubChem (2026) — database

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 →