Baby Safety / Compounds / Isobutyl acetate

Is Isobutyl acetate 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 Isobutyl acetate, 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 isobutyl acetate?

The IUPAC name is 2-methylpropyl ethanoate.

Also known as: 2-methylpropyl ethanoate, 2-Methylpropyl acetate, Isobutyl ethanoate, Acetic acid, 2-methylpropyl ester.

IUPAC name
2-methylpropyl ethanoate
CAS number
110-19-0
Molecular formula
C6H12O2
Molecular weight
116.16 g/mol
SMILES
CC(C)COC(=O)C
PubChem CID
8038

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Isobutyl acetate, 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 Isobutyl acetate, 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

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Isobutyl acetate. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
FDA——
ECHA——
EU——

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 isobutyl acetate

  • fruits
  • bananas
  • food flavoring
  • beverages
  • confections

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Isobutyl acetate:

  • Ethyl butyrate (natural)
    Trade-offs: Different flavor character (more pineapple vs banana). Natural sourcing available.
    Relative cost: 1.2×

Frequently asked questions

What products contain isobutyl acetate?

Isobutyl acetate appears in: fruits; bananas; food flavoring.

See Isobutyl acetate in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 110-19-0 — 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 →