Baby Safety / Compounds / Imazalil (Fungaflor / Magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide)

Is Imazalil (Fungaflor / Magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide) safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants are susceptible to Imazalil (Fungaflor / Magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide) through dietary residues on produce. Developing endocrine and hepatic systems increase vulnerability to antifungal compounds.

What is imazalil (fungaflor / magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide)?

The IUPAC name is 1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-prop-2-enoxyethyl]imidazole.

Also known as: IMAZALIL, Enilconazole, 35554-44-0, Deccozil.

IUPAC name
1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-prop-2-enoxyethyl]imidazole
CAS number
35554-44-0
Molecular formula
C14H14Cl2N2O
Molecular weight
297.2 g/mol
SMILES
C=CCOC(CN1C=CN=C1)C2=C(C=C(C=C2)Cl)Cl
PubChem CID
37175

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants are susceptible to Imazalil (Fungaflor / Magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide) through dietary residues on produce. Developing endocrine and hepatic systems increase vulnerability to antifungal compounds.

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.

Regulatory consensus

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Imazalil (Fungaflor / Magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA—Likely carcinogen (2020); registered with mitigation
EU—Approved; Carc. 2 H351; Repr. 2 H361d
IARC—Not yet evaluated by IARC

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 imazalil (fungaflor / magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide)

  • Citrus Post Harvest — oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, mandarins
  • Tropical Fruit — bananas (post-harvest)
  • Root Vegetables — potatoes (seed piece treatment)
  • Fruit Wax — shellac/carnauba wax coatings with imazalil

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Imazalil (Fungaflor / Magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide):

  • Fludioxonil
    Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
  • Hot water treatment
    Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
  • Sodium bicarbonate
    Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.

Frequently asked questions

Is imazalil (fungaflor / magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide) safe for kids?

Infants are susceptible to Imazalil (Fungaflor / Magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide) through dietary residues on produce. Developing endocrine and hepatic systems increase vulnerability to antifungal compounds.

What products contain imazalil (fungaflor / magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide)?

Imazalil (Fungaflor / Magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide) appears in: oranges (citrus post harvest); lemons (citrus post harvest); bananas (post-harvest) (tropical fruit); potatoes (seed piece treatment) (root vegetables).

What should I do if my child is exposed to imazalil (fungaflor / magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide)?

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.

Why do regulators disagree about imazalil (fungaflor / magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide)?

Imazalil (Fungaflor / Magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide) has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA, EU, IARC, with differing conclusions. 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. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

See Imazalil (Fungaflor / Magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide) in the baby app

Look up products containing imazalil (fungaflor / magnate / citrus post-harvest wax fungicide), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  1. — expert_curation

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 →