Flavoring Agent · CAS 89-78-1
Menthol
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, Menthol 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 #246 of 417.
- #246 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Menthol is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #246 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (41st percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #246 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Menthol: 9 tracked U.S. products (moderate band, #246 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 9 · #246 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 | 89-78-1 | 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 Menthol?
Menthol (CAS 89-78-1) 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 (9 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Menthol safe to consume?
Menthol scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a moderate additive (9 tracked products, #246 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Menthol used for in food?
Menthol shows up as flavoring agent or adjuvant in the Flavoring Agent class, and the OFF sample puts it in the moderate footprint band (9 products).
Where does Menthol sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #246 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.