Baby Safety / Compounds / Allyl disulfide

Is Allyl disulfide 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 Allyl disulfide, 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 allyl disulfide?

Also known as: DIALLYL DISULFIDE, Diallyldisulfide, Diallyl disulphide, Disulfide, di-2-propenyl.

IUPAC name
allyl disulfide
CAS number
2179-57-9
Molecular formula
C6H10S2
Molecular weight
146.27 g/mol
SMILES
C=CCSSCC=C
PubChem CID
16590

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Allyl disulfide, 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 Allyl disulfide, 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 Allyl disulfide. 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 allyl disulfide

  • garlic flavoring
  • savory flavoring

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Allyl disulfide:

  • Garlic essential oil (steam-distilled)
    Trade-offs: Complex mixture — contains allyl disulfide plus other sulfur compounds. Flavor less 'clean'.
    Relative cost: 2×

Frequently asked questions

What products contain allyl disulfide?

Allyl disulfide appears in: garlic flavoring; savory flavoring.

See Allyl disulfide in the baby app

Look up products containing allyl disulfide, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 2179-57-9 — 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 →