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Anethole

CAS 4180-23-8 · 40/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 5 other CAS numbers

104-46-1 · 26795-32-4 · 50770-19-9 · 57131-42-7 · 109957-71-3

Anethole chemical structure

Concern score

40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence

Anethole in plain language

What it is

Also known as Trans-anethole · (E)-Anethole · Isoestragole · trans-p-PROPENYLANISOLE · (e)-p-propenylanisole · Anethole (natural)

Show all 36 names

Trans anethole · Anise camphor · Benzene, 1-METHOXY-4-(1-PROPENYL)-, (e)- · TRANS-1-P-ANISYLPROPENE · (E)-1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)propene · (E)-1-p-Methoxyphenylpropene · (E)-Anethol · (E)-anetol · 1-METHOXY-4-(1E)-1-PROPEN-1-YLBENZENE · 1-Methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)benzene · 1-Methoxy-4-(prop-1(trans)-enyl)benzene · 1-Methoxy-4-propenylbenzene · 4-Methoxy-1-propenylbenzene · 4-Methoxypropenylbenzene · 4-Propenylanisole · Anethole, (e)- · Acintene O · Anethol · Aniskampfer · Anisole, p-propenyl- · Anisole, p-propenyl-, (E)- · Benzene, 1-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)- · Benzene, 1-methoxy-4-(1E)-1-propenyl- · Monasirup · benzene, 1-methoxy-4-(1e)- 1-propen-1-yl- · p-1-Propenylanisole · p-Anethole · p-Propenylphenyl methyl ether · trans-Anethole Active pharmaceutical ingredient · (e)-anethole (constituent of myrrh)

What it does

Used in food as a flavouring agent.

  • Flavouring agent
  • Fragrance
  • Flavouring
Is it a concern?
Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 53 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Personal care, Cleaning products and household 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. Anethole appears in these published regulatory listings.

  • Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

  • Found in consumer products
  • Beauty
  • Cleaning
  • Industrial
  • USFDAinactive ingredient database4 entries — 2 administration routes
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SYRUP; Potency: 2.3 mg/5mlSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: ELIXIR; Potency: 0.03 mgSource →
    • Route: DENTAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: DENTAL; Dosage form: PASTE, DENTIFRICE; Potency: 9.4 %w/wSource →
  • EUEFSAEFSA opinion3 entries
    • Safety and efficacy of BIOSTRONG 510 (essential oil of thyme and star anise) for chickens and minor avian species for fattening and rearing to point of lay (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
    • Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of allylhydroxybenzenes (chemical group 18) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
    • Scientific Opinion on safety and efficacy of CRINA Poultry Plus (preparation of benzoic acid and essential oil compounds) as feed additive for chickens for fattening (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
  • GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
  • GLOBALJECFA0-2 mg/kg bwJECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-2 mg/kg bw. Functional class: flavouring agent.
    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-2 mg/kg bw. Functional class: flavouring agent.Source →
  • USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 53 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Personal care, Cleaning products and household care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Flavouring and nutrient, Fragrance.
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 53 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Personal care, Cleaning products and household care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Flavouring and nutrient, Fragrance.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.

  • JECFA

    Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

    • JECFA evaluation record.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-2 mg/kg bw. Functional class: flavouring agent.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

  • EFSA

    European Food Safety Authority

    • Safety and efficacy of BIOSTRONG 510 (essential oil of thyme and star anise) for chickens and minor avian species for fattening and rearing to point of lay (EFSA FEEDAP)

      2016 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

    • Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of allylhydroxybenzenes (chemical group 18) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)

      2011 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

    • Scientific Opinion on safety and efficacy of CRINA Poultry Plus (preparation of benzoic acid and essential oil compounds) as feed additive for chickens for fattening (EFSA FEEDAP)

      2012 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Anethole yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

8 data sources

Where this comes from

  • 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 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 →

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 EPA CPDat has listed Anethole in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

53

Named organisations

6

Laboratory suppliesPersonal careCleaning products and household careVehicle

Typical roles

Flavouring agentFragranceFlavouring
See products using Anethole →

Catalog

Found in these products

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

See all 141 →Find products without it →