Baby Safety / Compounds / Enniatin B

Is Enniatin B safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Enniatin B than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is enniatin b?

The IUPAC name is (3S,6R,9S,12R,15S,18R)-4,10,16-trimethyl-3,6,9,12,15,18-hexa(propan-2-yl)-1,7,13-trioxa-4,10,16-triazacyclooctadecane-2,5,8,11,14,17-hexone.

Also known as: (3S,6R,9S,12R,15S,18R)-4,10,16-trimethyl-3,6,9,12,15,18-hexa(propan-2-yl)-1,7,13-trioxa-4,10,16-triazacyclooctadecane-2,5,8,11,14,17-hexone, H02S2TZR95, RefChem:136944, DTXCID301031283.

IUPAC name
(3S,6R,9S,12R,15S,18R)-4,10,16-trimethyl-3,6,9,12,15,18-hexa(propan-2-yl)-1,7,13-trioxa-4,10,16-triazacyclooctadecane-2,5,8,11,14,17-hexone
CAS number
917-13-5
Molecular formula
C33H57N3O9
Molecular weight
639.8 g/mol
SMILES
CC(C)C1C(=O)OC(C(=O)N(C(C(=O)OC(C(=O)N(C(C(=O)OC(C(=O)N1C)C(C)C)C(C)C)C)C(C)C)C(C)C)C)C(C)C
PubChem CID
164754

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Enniatin B than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

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 the metabolism and distribution of Enniatin B, 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

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Enniatin B.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EFSA (scientific opinion on enniatins and beauvericin as undesirable substances in animal feed and food, 2014)2014no carcinogenicity classification; cyclic depsipeptide ionophore from Fusarium fusarioides and related species; frequently detected in cereal grains and grain-based products; EFSA concluded insufficient data to establish a health-based guidance value (TDI) due to data gaps; cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing in vitro; P-glycoprotein inhibitor; not classified for carcinogenicity by IARC, NTP, US EPA, or WHO

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 enniatin b

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Enniatin B:

  • Prevention (storage and agricultural practices)
    Trade-offs: Zero point-of-use emissions; shifts emissions to power generation (grid-dependent); lower operating cost; higher capital cost; infrastructure requirements (charging, grid capacity); rapidly improving economics.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is enniatin b safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Enniatin B than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain enniatin b?

Enniatin B appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to enniatin b?

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 Enniatin B in the baby app

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

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Sources (1)
  1. EFSA Scientific Opinion Enniatins Beauvericin Animal Feed Food 2014: Enniatin B Most Common Congener European Cereals; Cyclic Depsipeptide Ionophore; P-glycoprotein Inhibitor; No TDI Established Data Gaps; In Vitro Cytotoxic; No Carcinogenicity Classification (2014) — regulatory

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 →