Baby Safety / Compounds / trans-Anethole

Is trans-Anethole safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to trans-Anethole 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 trans-anethole?

Also known as: ANETHOLE, Anise camphor, Monasirup, Anethol.

CAS number
4180-23-8
Molecular formula
C10H12O
Molecular weight
148.20 g/mol
SMILES
CC=CC1=CC=C(C=C1)OC
PubChem CID
637563

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Infants are more vulnerable to trans-Anethole 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

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified trans-Anethole.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EDC Assessment—Suspected endocrine disruptor

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 trans-anethole

  • Personal Care — perfume, soap, cosmetics
  • Consumer Products — cleaning products, candles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to trans-Anethole:

  • Lower-sensitization structural analog; Unscented formulation
    Trade-offs: Eliminates allergen risk entirely; consumer acceptance varies (some associate scent with cleanliness/efficacy); growing market segment; regulatory advantage in EU (no IFRA compliance needed).
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is trans-anethole safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to trans-Anethole 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 trans-anethole?

trans-Anethole appears in: perfume (Personal care); soap (Personal care); cleaning products (Consumer products); candles (Consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to trans-anethole?

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 trans-Anethole in the baby app

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

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Sources (1)
  1. PubChem (2026) — database

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 →