Flavoring Agent · CAS 4602-84-0
Farnesol
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, Farnesol 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 #340 of 417.
- #340 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Farnesol is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #340 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (14th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #340 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Regulatory snapshot
Farnesol: composite 4/5 (Low Risk) with FDA Approved.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Not separately listed | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | - | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 4602-84-0 | 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 |
| Tracked Products | 2 | Open Food Facts (US) |
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 Farnesol?
Farnesol (CAS 4602-84-0) is an FDA-regulated food substance used as flavoring agent or adjuvant.
Common Uses
Catalog-profile peer axes
Nationwide catalog-profile peers for Farnesol
Product-count (2) and safety-score (4/5) peer columns, disjoint link sets.
Score 4/5 peers (≥50 OFF products)
Nearest other additives by PlainIngredients safety score (floored at ≥50 tracked products), distinct from the count row.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Farnesol safe to consume?
Farnesol scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. In the lower-concern band the federal listing is the primary signal. Moderation still applies to any additive.
What is Farnesol used for in food?
Farnesol is commonly used as: flavoring agent or adjuvant. It belongs to the Flavoring Agent category of food additives.
Where does Farnesol sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #340 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.