butter esters

Butter esters represent a class of fatty esters contributing to the characteristic aroma and flavor found in butter and related dairy products. Recognized by synonyms such as butter ethyl esters and butter esters type natural, these compounds typically exhibit a creamy, sweet, and slightly fruity profile with acidic butter notes. Their sensory properties include a fatty, oily, and waxy odor and a creamy, buttery flavor. These esters are classified as flavor and fragrance agents and are usually sourced or synthesized for use in food flavorings. For detailed chemical information, they are indexed in controlled vocabularies such as PubChem under SID 135327985.

Butter esters occur naturally in dairy products, especially butter, where they contribute significantly to its aroma and taste profile. Their fatty and creamy notes make them valuable in flavor formulation for enhancing butter flavors in baked goods, fats and oils, frozen dairy, fruit ices, and confectionery frostings, among others. These compounds comply with FEMA (US) standards, which recognize them as flavoring substances with specified use levels ensuring sensory and safety suitability. Their potential uses in flavor and fragrance agents extend to foods requiring authentic butter characteristics. Storage under cool, dry, and light-protected conditions ensures stability over extended periods.

Butter esters exhibit physicochemical properties typical of fatty esters, with specific gravity ranging from 0.86 to 0.875 at 20 °C, indicating a relatively low density compared to water. Their refractive index lies between 1.435 and 1.445 at the same temperature, reflecting their optical properties pertinent to quality control in formulation. These compounds are soluble in alcohol but insoluble in water, which guides their use in various solvent systems during flavor preparation. The flash point is approximately 22 °C (72 °F), highlighting storage and handling considerations, particularly the need to keep them in tightly sealed containers away from heat. A shelf life of at least 12 months is typical when stored properly, ensuring sustained sensory integrity.

FDA Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS):	View
FooDB:	FDB019505
Export Tariff Code:	3302.10.9000
Wikipedia:	View

Safety information

Preferred SDS: View
Hazards identification
Classification of the substance or mixture
GHS Classification in accordance with 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA HCS)
None found.
GHS Label elements, including precautionary statements
Pictogram
Hazard statement(s)
None found.
Precautionary statement(s)
None found.
Oral/Parenteral Toxicity:
Not determined
Dermal Toxicity:
Not determined
Inhalation Toxicity:
Not determined

Safety in use information

Category:
flavor and fragrance agents
RIFM Fragrance Material Safety Assessment: Search
IFRA Code of Practice Notification of the 49th Amendment to the IFRA Code of Practice
Use levels for FEMA GRAS flavoring substances on which the FEMA Expert Panel based its judgments that the substances are generally recognized as safe (GRAS).
The Expert Panel also publishes separate extensive reviews of scientific information on all FEMA GRAS flavoring substances and can be found at FEMA Flavor Ingredient Library
publication number: 3
Click here to view publication 3
		average usual ppm	average maximum ppm
baked goods:		-	86.00000
beverages(nonalcoholic):		-	-
beverages(alcoholic):		-	-
breakfast cereal:		-	-
cheese:		-	-
chewing gum:		-	-
condiments / relishes:		-	-
confectionery froastings:		-	-
egg products:		-	-
fats / oils:		-	200.00000
fish products:		-	-
frozen dairy:		-	24.00000
fruit ices:		-	24.00000
gelatins / puddings:		-	-
granulated sugar:		-	-
gravies:		-	-
hard candy:		-	78.00000
imitation dairy:		-	-
instant coffee / tea:		-	-
jams / jellies:		-	-
meat products:		-	-
milk products:		-	-
nut products:		-	-
other grains:		-	-
poultry:		-	-
processed fruits:		-	-
processed vegetables:		-	-
reconstituted vegetables:		-	-
seasonings / flavors:		-	-
snack foods:		-	-
soft candy:		-	-
soups:		-	-
sugar substitutes:		-	-
sweet sauces:		-	-

Safety references

EPA ACToR:Toxicology Data

EPA Substance Registry Services (SRS):Registry

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases:Data

Chemidplus:0097926233