Menthol in food: ingestion safety

What is menthol?

The IUPAC name is 5-methyl-2-propan-2-ylcyclohexan-1-ol.

Also known as: 5-methyl-2-propan-2-ylcyclohexan-1-ol, 2-Isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexanol, Menthyl alcohol, Mentholum.

IUPAC name

5-methyl-2-propan-2-ylcyclohexan-1-ol

CAS number

89-78-1

Molecular formula

C10H20O

Molecular weight

156.26 g/mol

SMILES

CC1CCC(C(C1)O)C(C)C

PubChem CID

1254

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Menthol.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter menthol

• Personal Care — toothpaste, mouthwash, lip balm, shaving cream, body wash
• Food — cough drops, candy, chewing gum, mint tea
• Consumer Products — cigarettes (menthol), topical analgesics
• Fragrance — perfume, cologne, scented personal care products, household fragrance products, candles
  Identified in Fragrance Ingredient Safety Priority Research database (2,325 ingredients)

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Menthol:

• Natural preservatives; Clean-label ingredients; Minimally processed food
  Trade-offs: Consumer label appeal ('clean label'); variable efficacy depending on food matrix and target pathogen; may alter flavor/color; regulatory status varies by jurisdiction; often more expensive per unit of preservation effect.
  Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions