Baby Safety / Compounds / Isoamyl butyrate

Is Isoamyl butyrate 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 Isoamyl butyrate, 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 isoamyl butyrate?

The IUPAC name is 3-methylbutyl butanoate.

Also known as: 3-methylbutyl butanoate, Isopentyl butyrate, ISOPENTYL BUTANOATE, Isoamyl butanoate.

IUPAC name
3-methylbutyl butanoate
CAS number
106-27-4
Molecular formula
C8H16O2
Molecular weight
144.21 g/mol
SMILES
CCCC(=O)OCCC(C)C
PubChem CID
7795

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Isoamyl butyrate, 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 Isoamyl butyrate, 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 Isoamyl butyrate. 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 isoamyl butyrate

  • fruit flavoring
  • beverages
  • confectionery

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Isoamyl butyrate:

  • Natural isoamyl butyrate (fermentation-derived)
    Trade-offs: Identical molecule from natural source. Higher cost. Supply variability.
    Relative cost: 5-10×

Frequently asked questions

What products contain isoamyl butyrate?

Isoamyl butyrate appears in: fruit flavoring; beverages; confectionery.

See Isoamyl butyrate in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 106-27-4 — 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 →