What is E1519?

Complete guide to understanding E1519 (Benzyl Alcohol) in your food

The Quick Answer

E1519 is benzyl alcohol (also called phenylmethanol or phenylcarbinol)—an aromatic alcohol used in food as a solvent for flavorings and colorants, flavor enhancer, and preservative.

It’s used in food primarily to dissolve and distribute flavorings, food colorings, and other additives evenly throughout products—found in baked goods, confectionery, chocolate, beverages, and other processed foods requiring flavor enhancement.

E1519 is EFSA authorized with an established ADI of 4 mg/kg body weight per day (set 2019). It has low acute toxicity and is metabolized to benzoic acid in the body, which is then rapidly excreted. It’s also naturally present in some fruits, flowers, and teas.

📌 Quick Facts

Chemical: C₆H₅CH₂OH (aromatic alcohol; benzene ring with methanol side chain)
Also known as: Benzyl alcohol, phenylmethanol, phenylcarbinol, methyl phenol
Found in: Baked goods, pastries, confectionery, chocolate, flavorings, beverages, food colorings, liqueurs, aromatic wines
Safety: EFSA authorized, FDA approval status varies, JECFA approved
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI): 4 mg/kg body weight per day (set 2019)
Source: Synthetic chemical produced from toluene or by hydrogenation of benzaldehyde; naturally present in some flowers and fruits
Physical form: Colorless liquid with mild, pleasant aromatic/floral odor and slightly sweet taste
Taste: Slightly sweet; aromatic; mild
Key properties: Excellent solvent for flavorings and colorants; preservative (antimicrobial); flavor enhancer
Solubility: Miscible with ethanol, acetone, ether; partially soluble in water (~37 g/L at 20°C)
Odor: Characteristic pleasant, mild aromatic/floral odor
Metabolism: Oxidized to benzoic acid, conjugated with glycine, excreted as hippuric acid (rapid excretion)
Natural occurrence: Found in essential oils of rose, jasmine, hyacinth, some fruits and teas
Antimicrobial: Preservative action against Gram-positive bacteria and some fungi
Dietary restrictions: Vegan, vegetarian, kosher, halal, gluten-free, dairy-free (when synthetic source)
Important note: Limited use in EU food products (rarely labeled on individual products)
2019 EFSA re-evaluation: Comprehensive safety assessment confirmed safe at reported use levels

What Exactly Is It?

E1519 is benzyl alcohol (C₆H₅CH₂OH), an aromatic alcohol consisting of a benzene ring attached to a methanol (-CH₂OH) side chain. It’s a colorless, oily liquid with a mild, pleasant aromatic/floral odor and slightly sweet taste.

Benzyl alcohol is fundamentally different from benzene (toxic) or ethanol (drinking alcohol). While it contains an aromatic benzene ring, the presence of the hydroxyl group (-OH) makes it an alcohol with low toxicity and specific food-safe properties.

Key characteristic: The alcohol group (-OH) makes benzyl alcohol hydrophilic (water-soluble enough to function as a solvent), allowing it to effectively dissolve and distribute flavorings, food colorings, and other additives throughout food products.

Chemical composition:

• Molecular formula: C₆H₅CH₂OH (also written as C₇H₈O)
• IUPAC name: Phenylmethanol
• CAS Number: 100-51-6
• Molecular weight: 108.14 g/mol
• Density: 1.042 g/cm³
• Melting point: -15°C
• Boiling point: 205.3°C (very high boiling point—useful for solvent applications)

How it’s made:

E1519 is produced using two primary methods:

• Method 1 – Toluene oxidation (most common): Toluene undergoes chlorination to form benzyl chloride, which is then hydrolyzed with water or alkali to produce benzyl alcohol. This is the dominant industrial method.
Chemical equation: C₆H₅CH₃ → C₆H₅CH₂Cl → C₆H₅CH₂OH (via hydrolysis)
• Method 2 – Benzaldehyde reduction (alternative): Benzaldehyde (a byproduct of toluene oxidation to benzoic acid) is hydrogenated to produce benzyl alcohol.
Chemical equation: C₆H₅CHO + H₂ → C₆H₅CH₂OH

Natural occurrence: Benzyl alcohol naturally occurs as ester components in essential oils of roses, jasmine, hyacinth, and other flowers, as well as in some fruits and teas.

Where You’ll Find It

E1519 appears in a limited but specialized range of food products:

• Flavorings for baked goods and pastries – as solvent for flavor compounds
• Confectionery and candy (particularly when complex flavoring required)
• Chocolate and chocolate products
• Sweetened beverages and soft drinks
• Liqueurs and aromatic wines (as flavor carrier and enhancer)
• Food colorings and dyes (as solvent and carrier)
• Aromatic wine-based cocktails and beverages
• Some vitamin/mineral supplements (as solvent)
• Baking ingredients and flavor mixes

Important note on labeling: According to the 2019 EFSA assessment, benzyl alcohol (E1519) is labeled on very few EU food products—only one product was found in the comprehensive labeling survey of the Mintel GNPD database (belonging to baking ingredients category). This reflects that E1519 is used primarily as a solvent/carrier in flavorings and colorants rather than as an independently labeled ingredient.

Regulatory use scope: EFSA authorizes E1519 specifically as a solvent/carrier for use in food, particularly in flavorings, colorants, and other additives that require a solvent medium.

E1519 is rarely encountered as a directly labeled ingredient because it primarily functions as a processing aid within other food additives.

💡 Pro Tip: E1519 is rarely found labeled on consumer products because it’s used primarily as a solvent/carrier within flavoring compounds and food colorants rather than as a standalone additive. You’re much more likely to see it in the ingredient list of “flavorings” or “colors” rather than as “E1519” or “benzyl alcohol” on the main label. If you do see it listed, it will be in the ingredients of baked goods, confectionery, or specialty beverages.

Why Do Food Companies Use It?

E1519’s primary function is serving as a solvent and carrier for flavorings and colorants.

Food manufacturers use benzyl alcohol for multiple strategic advantages:

• Solvent for flavorings: Dissolves and carries volatile flavor compounds; enables even distribution throughout product
• Carrier for food colorings: Serves as vehicle for fat-soluble and oil-soluble colorants; improves color distribution
• Flavor enhancement: Intensifies perception of other flavors; acts as flavor modifier
• Preservative action: Antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and some fungi (bacteriostatic effect)
• Odor contribution: Mild aromatic/floral odor contributes pleasant sensory profile
• Processing efficiency: Enables uniform incorporation of hydrophobic (fat-loving) additives into aqueous systems
• Taste masking: Can mask unpleasant tastes of other ingredients
• Polarity balance: Bridges gap between hydrophobic flavorings and hydrophilic (water-based) food products
• Solubility improvement: Increases solubility of poorly-soluble additives
• Cost efficiency: Effective at very low concentrations
• Regulatory universality: Approved in EU and recognized by major regulatory bodies

Unique advantage in complex flavorings: E1519 is particularly valuable for creating complex, aromatic flavor profiles that require dissolving multiple volatile organic compounds into a stable liquid medium. It enables flavor compound stability that would be impossible without a proper solvent.

Is It Safe?

E1519 is safe at approved food use levels and has been comprehensively re-evaluated by EFSA.

Regulatory approval:

• FDA approval status: Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in alcoholic beverages and flavorings; food contact substance authorization varies
• EFSA authorized: Approved as food additive E1519 with comprehensive 2019 re-evaluation confirming safety
• JECFA approved: Recognized as safe food additive
• European Medicines Agency (EMA): Registered as pharmaceutical excipient in medical products
• International approval: Approved by regulatory bodies worldwide for cosmetic and food use

2019 EFSA Re-evaluation Findings (Comprehensive Assessment):

The European Food Safety Authority Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings conducted comprehensive safety assessment:

• Acute toxicity: Low acute toxicity (LD₅₀ 1.2 g/kg in rats)
• Genotoxicity: No concern regarding genetic damage
• Carcinogenicity: No evidence of cancer-causing potential
• Reproductive/developmental toxicity: No adverse effects on reproduction or development
• Established ADI: 4 mg/kg body weight per day
• NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level): 400 mg/kg body weight per day in rat carcinogenicity study
• Exposure assessment: Mean exposure in toddlers (highest exposed group): 0.27 mg/kg body weight per day; High exposure: 0.81 mg/kg body weight per day—both well below ADI
• Conclusion: “Exposure to benzyl alcohol (E 1519) does not raise a safety concern at the reported uses and use levels”

Safety profile:

• ADI status: 4 mg/kg body weight per day (established by EFSA 2019)
• Metabolism: Rapidly oxidized to benzoic acid in liver; conjugated with glycine; excreted as hippuric acid in urine
• Rapid excretion: No bioaccumulation; compounds are quickly eliminated
• No documented toxicity: No toxicity at food use levels
• Natural occurrence: Found naturally in essential oils of flowers, some fruits, and teas
• Pharmaceutical use: EMA-registered pharmaceutical excipient (demonstrates high safety standard)
• Cosmetic use: Approved as preservative and antimicrobial in cosmetics (decades of safe use)
• REACH registration: Registered under REACH chemical regulations (requires safety documentation)
• Food contact substance: Authorized for use in plastic materials (additional safety confirmation)
• Feed additive: Included in EU Register of feed additives as flavoring substance
• Multiple safety reviews: Subject to continuous observation and re-evaluation

Important note on infant safety: While benzyl alcohol is safe at food use levels for general population, historically there was concern about “benzyl alcohol syndrome” in neonates receiving high-dose IV medications containing benzyl alcohol as preservative. However, at food use levels, exposure is far below levels that caused concern in that context.

ℹ️ Benzyl Alcohol Syndrome Note: In the 1980s, some premature infants received IV medications containing high concentrations of benzyl alcohol as preservative, resulting in adverse effects (“gasping syndrome”). However, E1519 at food use levels results in vastly lower exposures—the 2019 EFSA assessment confirmed safety margins are adequate.

✓ Safety Summary: E1519 is safe at food use levels. EFSA comprehensive 2019 re-evaluation established ADI of 4 mg/kg body weight. Actual food exposures (0.27-0.81 mg/kg bw/day) are well below ADI. Low acute toxicity. No genotoxicity, no carcinogenicity, no reproductive effects. Rapidly metabolized and excreted. Natural occurrence in fruits and flowers. EMA pharmaceutical registration indicates high safety standard.

Natural vs Synthetic Version

E1519 is synthetically produced but exists naturally in some plants:

Source and production:

• Synthetic production: Toluene oxidation or benzaldehyde reduction (dominant commercial methods)
• Natural occurrence: Found as ester components in essential oils of roses, jasmine, hyacinth, and other flowers; also in some fruits and teas
• Final product: Chemically identical regardless of source

Perceived “naturalness”: E1519 from natural extraction would be “natural,” but commercial food-grade benzyl alcohol is exclusively synthetically produced. However, synthetic benzyl alcohol is identical to the naturally-occurring compound.

Vegetarian/vegan/dietary status:

• Vegan: Yes—when synthetically produced; no animal products involved
• Vegetarian: Yes
• Kosher: Yes
• Halal: Yes
• Gluten-free: Yes
• Dairy-free: Yes

Natural Alternatives

Want to avoid E1519 or looking for alternative solvents for flavorings and colorants?

Some alternatives include:

• Ethanol (E1510) – Alcohol solvent; commonly used in flavorings
• Glycerin (E422) – Solvent with humectant properties
• Propylene glycol (E1520) – Solvent and humectant
• Natural oils and fats – For fat-soluble additives
• Gum arabic (E414) – Emulsifier/stabilizer for flavorings
• Maltodextrin – Carrier for hydrophobic compounds
• Water – For water-soluble additives (limited solvent power)
• Direct incorporation of flavorings: Without additional solvent (less efficient)

The Bottom Line

E1519 (benzyl alcohol) is an aromatic alcohol used primarily as a solvent and carrier for flavorings and food colorants—enabling even distribution of these additives throughout food products.

It’s approved by EFSA with an established ADI of 4 mg/kg body weight per day (2019) and approved by FDA for use in flavorings and alcoholic beverages.

Key advantages: E1519 is safe at food use levels. Comprehensive 2019 EFSA re-evaluation confirmed safety. Actual food exposures are well below ADI. Rapidly metabolized and excreted. Naturally present in some flowers and fruits. EMA pharmaceutical registration indicates high safety standard.

Limited exposure: E1519 is rarely encountered as a directly labeled ingredient because it’s used primarily as a solvent within flavoring compounds. You’re unlikely to see “E1519” on product labels unless specifically seeking it.

For consumers: E1519 is safe when encountered in food products. While synthetic, it’s approved by all major regulatory authorities at established ADI levels. If preferring natural alternatives, ethanol (E1510) is the most common alternative solvent for flavorings.

Primary application: E1519 is invaluable for food manufacturers in creating complex, aromatic flavor profiles that require proper solvent media for volatile organic compounds.

Regulatory confidence: The 2019 EFSA comprehensive re-evaluation and established ADI demonstrate regulatory authority confidence in E1519’s safety at approved use levels.

What is E1519? – Complete guide to understanding Benzyl Alcohol in your food