Baby Safety / Compounds / gamma-Octalactone

Is gamma-Octalactone 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 gamma-Octalactone, 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 gamma-octalactone?

The IUPAC name is oxolan-2-one, 5-propyl-.

Also known as: oxolan-2-one, 5-propyl-, 4-Octanolide, 5-butyloxolan-2-one, 2(3H)-Furanone, 5-butyldihydro-.

IUPAC name
oxolan-2-one, 5-propyl-
CAS number
104-50-7
Molecular formula
C8H14O2
Molecular weight
138.16 g/mol
SMILES
CCCCC1CCC(=O)O1
PubChem CID
7704

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of gamma-Octalactone, 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 gamma-Octalactone, 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 gamma-Octalactone. 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 gamma-octalactone

  • coconut flavoring
  • cream flavoring
  • desserts

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to gamma-Octalactone:

  • delta-Decalactone (natural, from dairy)
    Trade-offs: Different lactone character. Well-characterized safety profile.
    Relative cost: Similar

Frequently asked questions

What products contain gamma-octalactone?

gamma-Octalactone appears in: coconut flavoring; cream flavoring; desserts.

See gamma-Octalactone in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 104-50-7 — 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 →