Ethyl Acetate (E1504): What It Is and Is It Safe?
Ethyl acetate is a volatile ester used as an extraction and carrier solvent, notably for decaffeinating coffee and tea and for extracting or diluting flavourings. It hydrolyses readily to ethanol and acetic acid, both normal body metabolites, and is largely removed during processing. EU and UK law permit it as an extraction solvent under Directive 2009/32/EC subject to good manufacturing practice, with a 1 mg/kg residue limit for decaffeination, rather than as a direct food additive.
- Category
- Solvent / Carrier — Extraction solvent
- Typically used in
- Extraction solvent for decaffeinating coffee and tea and for flavour extraction.
- Regulatory status
- Permitted in the EU and UK as an extraction solvent under Directive 2009/32/EC at good-manufacturing-practice and residue-limited levels, not as a direct food additive.
Scrannr flags Ethyl Acetate automatically when you scan a barcode.
Where this comes from
- UK Government (2009) — Directive 2009/32/EC on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs, Annexes https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/2009/32/annexes
Products containing Ethyl Acetate
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