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Summary of Evaluations Performed by the
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

BENZYL ALCOHOL
COE No.: 58
FEMA No.: 2137
JECFA No.: 25
Chemical names: BENZYL ALCOHOL
Synonyms: PHENYL CARBINOL; PHENYLMETHANOL; alpha-HYDROXYTOLUENE
Functional class: FLAVOURING AGENT; CARRIER SOLVENT
Latest evaluation: 2001
ADI: 0-5 mg/kg bw (1996)
Comments: No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. The 1996 group ADI of 0-5 mg/kg bw for benzoic acid, the benzoate salts (calcium, potassium and sodium), benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol and benzyl benzoate, expressed as benzoic acid equivalents, was maintained at the fifty-seventh meeting (2001).
Report: TRS 909-JECFA 57/73
Specifications: COMPENDIUM ADDENDUM 12/FNP 52 Add. 12/67 (METALS LIMITS) (2004)
Tox monograph: FAS 48-JECFA 57/227
Previous status: 2001, COMPENDIUM ADDENDUM 9/FNP 52 Add.9/110. R
1996, TRS 868-JECFA 46/41, COMPENDIUM ADDENDUM 4/FNP 52 Add.4/21 (SOLVENT); 175 (FLAVOUR), FAS 37-JECFA 46/29. 0-5 mg/kg bw (GROUP ADI FOR BENZOIC ACID, THE BENZOATE SALTS (CALCIUM, POTASSIUM AND SODIUM), BENZALDEHYDE, BENZYL ACETATE, BENZYL ALCOHOL AND BENZYL BENOZATE, EXPRESSED AS BENZOIC ACID). FU. R
1979, TRS 648-JECFA 23/15, FNP 12-JECFA 23/11 (COMPENDIUM/193). NOT PREPARED. 0-5 mg/kg bw (THIS GROUP ADI FOR BENZYL ALCOHOL AND BENZYL BENZOATE SHOULD APPLY TO THE BENZYL/BENZOIC MOIETY RELATED TO BENZOIC ACID REPRESENTING TOTAL BENZOATE FROM ALL FOOD ADDITIVE SOURCES). FU. N
Intake: See BENZOATES
 
28 May 05    




    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Benzyl alcohol (ICSC)