Baby Safety / Compounds / Anethole

Is Anethole 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 Anethole, 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 anethole?

The IUPAC name is 1-methoxy-4-propenylbenzene.

Also known as: 1-methoxy-4-propenylbenzene, Anise camphor, Monasirup, Anethol.

IUPAC name
1-methoxy-4-propenylbenzene
CAS number
104-46-1
Molecular formula
C10H10O
Molecular weight
146.19 g/mol
SMILES
CC=CC1=CC=C(C=C1)OC
PubChem CID
637563

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Anethole, 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 Anethole, 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 Anethole. 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 anethole

  • anise flavoring
  • licorice flavoring
  • spice flavoring

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Anethole:

  • Natural anethole (from star anise or fennel oil)
    Trade-offs: Same molecule, natural source. Supply fluctuates with crop yields. Higher cost.
    Relative cost: 3-5× synthetic

Frequently asked questions

What products contain anethole?

Anethole appears in: anise flavoring; licorice flavoring; spice flavoring.

See Anethole in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 104-46-1 — 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 →