Food use
Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.
The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.
- beauty
- cleaning
- food
N-lactoyl ethanolamine
CAS 68797-45-5 · 40/100 · High conf.
Also registered as 1 other CAS number
5422-34-4
Concern score
40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence
N-lactoyl ethanolamine in plain language
On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Lactamide MEA”.
Also known as Lactamide MEA · 2-Hydroxy-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)propanamide · N-(2-hydroxyethyl)lactamide · Propanamide, 2-hydroxy-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)- · 2-HYDROXY-N-(2-HYDROXYETHYL)-, (±)- · Incromectant lmea
Show all 22 names
Lactic acid monoethanolamide · Lactoyl monoethanolamide · Lipamide lmea · 1-hydroxyethane-1-(2'-hydroxyethyl)carbonamide · 2-HYDROXY-N-(2-HYDROXYETHYL)-, (+/-)- · 2-Lactamidoethanol · Lactamide, N-(2-HYDROXYETHYL)- · Monoethanolamine lactic acid amide · N-(.BETA.-HYDROXYETHYL)-2-HYDROXYPROPIONAMIDE · N-(.beta.-Hydroxyethyl)lactamide · N-2-hydroxyethyllactamide · N-Hydroxyaethyllactamid · N-lactoylethanolamine · N-beta-Hydroxyethyllactamide · Propanamide, 2-hydroxy-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-, (.+-.)- · Rzchtmxtkqhydt-uhfffaoysa-n
Used in cosmetics as a humectant, a skin-conditioning agent and a hair conditioner.
- Humectant
- Skin conditioning
- Hair conditioning
- Antistatic
- Flavouring agent
- Surfactant
- Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.
Why it's flagged
EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 88 composition records across product categories including Personal care.
The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.
Regulation
No restrictions found. N-lactoyl ethanolamine appears in these published regulatory listings.
- Found in consumer products
- Beauty
- Cleaning
EUEFSAEFSA opinion3 entries
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 94, Revision 2 (FGE.94Rev2): Consideration of aliphatic amines and amides evaluated in an addendum to the group of aliphatic and aromatic amines and amides evaluated by the JECFA (68th meeting) (EFSA CEF)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 94, Revision 1 (FGE.94Rev1): Consideration of aliphatic amines and amides evaluated in an addendum to the group of aliphatic and aromatic amines and amides evaluated by the JECFA (68th meeting). EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) (EFSA CEF)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 94 (FGE.94): Consideration of aliphatic amines and amides evaluated in addendum to the JECFA group aliphatic and aromatic amines and amides by JECFA (68th meeting). EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) (EFSA CEF)Source →
EUCosIngActiveListed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.
- Listed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.Source →
GLOBALJECFANo safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agentJECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 88 composition records across product categories including Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Humectant, Anti-static agent, Softener and conditioner.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 88 composition records across product categories including Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Humectant, Anti-static agent, Softener and conditioner.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →
Expert safety opinions
Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.
SCCS
EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
No SCCS opinion on file.
CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)
No CIR safety assessment on file.
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 94, Revision 2 (FGE.94Rev2): Consideration of aliphatic amines and amides evaluated in an addendum to the group of aliphatic and aromatic amines and amides evaluated by the JECFA (68th meeting) (EFSA CEF)
2014 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 94, Revision 1 (FGE.94Rev1): Consideration of aliphatic amines and amides evaluated in an addendum to the group of aliphatic and aromatic amines and amides evaluated by the JECFA (68th meeting). EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) (EFSA CEF)
2012 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 94 (FGE.94): Consideration of aliphatic amines and amides evaluated in addendum to the JECFA group aliphatic and aromatic amines and amides by JECFA (68th meeting). EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) (EFSA CEF)
2010 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.
Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
Evidence & sources
No graded research studies for N-lactoyl ethanolamine yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.
Where this comes from
- Open →
CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
- Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
- Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated September 2013
- Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
- Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
- Open →
WHO JECFA Database
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
- Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
- Open →
PubChem Live Enrichment
chemistry · updated 2026-05-17
Suitability
Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.
Good fit
Fragrance avoidance
Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.
The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.
Where it has been recorded
How often EPA CPDat has listed N-lactoyl ethanolamine in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.
Source records
88
Named organisations
6
Personal care
Typical roles
HumectantSkin conditioningHair conditioningAntistaticFlavouring agentSurfactant
Found in these products
Their ingredient lists include N-lactoyl ethanolamine; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.
