Flavoring Agent · CAS 36653-82-4
Cetyl Alcohol
FDA status: Approved. EU: not separately listed. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Cetyl Alcohol is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 4 out of 5 (Low Risk). By tracked product count it ranks #229 of 417.
- #229 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Cetyl Alcohol is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #229 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (44th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #229 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Cetyl Alcohol: 11 tracked U.S. products (moderate band, #229 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 11 · #229 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Not separately listed | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | - | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 36653-82-4 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Flavoring Agent | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 4 / 5 (Low Risk) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
What is Cetyl Alcohol?
Cetyl Alcohol (CAS 36653-82-4) is an FDA-regulated food substance used as flavoring agent or adjuvant.
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a moderate OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (11 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cetyl Alcohol safe to consume?
Cetyl Alcohol scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a moderate additive (11 tracked products, #229 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Cetyl Alcohol used for in food?
Cetyl Alcohol shows up as flavoring agent or adjuvant in the Flavoring Agent class, and the OFF sample puts it in the moderate footprint band (11 products).
Where does Cetyl Alcohol sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #229 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.