What does Phenylalanine do?

Used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning agent, a hair conditioner and a fragrance ingredient.

Is Phenylalanine safe?

High concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

beauty
food
industrial
pharma

Phenylalanine

CAS 25191-15-5 · 60/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 8 other CAS numbers

3617-44-5 · 5297-02-9 · 10549-09-4 · 67675-33-6 · 801204-11-5 · 2416148-28-0 · 63-91-2 · 150-30-1

Concern score

60/100High concern based on regulatory listings.

High confidence

Phenylalanine in plain language

What it is: Also known as L-phenylalanine · (2S)-2-amino-3-phenylpropanoic acid · L-.alpha.-amino-.beta.-phenylpropionic acid · Laevo-phenyl alanine · (-)-beta-Phenylalanine · (S)-(-)-Phenylalanine
Show all 23 names
(S)-2-Amino-3-phenylpropanoic acid · (S)-2-Amino-3-phenylpropionic acid · (S)-alpha-Amino-benzenepropanoic acid · (S)-alpha-Amino-beta-phenylpropionic acid · (S)-alpha-Aminobenzenepropanoic acid · (S)-alpha-Aminohydrocinnamic acid · 3-Phenyl-L-alanine · 3-Phenylalanine · Alanine, 3-phenyl- · Alanine, phenyl-, L- · Antibiotic FN 1636 · L-Alanine, 3-phenyl- · L-Alanine, phenyl- · Phenylalanine, L- · Phenylalaninum · beta-Phenyl-L-alanine · fenilalanina
What it does: Used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning agent, a hair conditioner and a fragrance ingredient.
Skin conditioning
Hair conditioning
Fragrance
Flavouring agent
Flavouring
Is it a concern?: High 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 3 composition records across product categories including Medical/dental, Laboratory supplies.

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. Phenylalanine appears in these published regulatory listings.

In marketed US drugs
Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Industrial

EUEFSAEFSA opinion2 entries
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of the use of amino acids (chemical group 34) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 79, (FGE.79). Consideration of amino acids and related substances evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to amino acids from chemical group 34 evaluated by EFSA in FGE.26Rev1 (2008). Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (EFSA AFC)Source →
USFDAinactive ingredient database2 entries
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Potency: 0.17 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 7.26 mgSource →
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 3 composition records across product categories including Medical/dental, Laboratory supplies. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Flavouring and nutrient.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 3 composition records across product categories including Medical/dental, Laboratory supplies. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Flavouring and nutrient.Source →
USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 67 active drug products and 68 total products.
- FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 67 active drug products and 68 total products.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →
USUSDA FoodData Centralobserved in branded food ingredient statementsObserved in 1 USDA branded foods including 1 LITER BOTTLE DIET BLACK CHERRY.
- Observed in 1 USDA branded foods including 1 LITER BOTTLE DIET BLACK CHERRY.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 the safety and efficacy of the use of amino acids (chemical group 34) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2014 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 79, (FGE.79). Consideration of amino acids and related substances evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to amino acids from chemical group 34 evaluated by EFSA in FGE.26Rev1 (2008). Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (EFSA AFC)
  2008 · 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 Phenylalanine yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

11 data sources

Where this comes from

CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated February 8, 2019
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
Open →
FDA National Drug Code Directory
regulatory · updated 2027-12-31
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
Open →
USDA Branded Foods
product_occurrence · updated 2026-02-19
Open →

Reference links (4)

Openfda substance

investor.synlogictx.com

Read →

Openfda substance

accessdata.fda.gov

Read →

Openfda substance

en.wikipedia.org

Read →

Openfda substance

thegoodscentscompany.com

Read →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

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.

Fragrance avoidance

Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.

Avoid

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 FDA National Drug Code directory has listed Phenylalanine in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

Typical roles

Skin conditioningHair conditioningFragranceFlavouring agentFlavouring

See products using Phenylalanine →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include Phenylalanine; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 230 →Find products without it →

Co-occurrence

Often appears with

Ingredients that frequently appear alongside Phenylalanine in the catalog.