Bitter Masker Flavour

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Bitter masker flavour is a synthetic flavour modifier (FL No. 16.127, JECFA No. 2161) that does not impart a new taste or odour to food but instead suppresses or reduces the perception of bitterness in certain foods such as cocoa and green tea. It is used at low concentrations to improve palatability and allow reduced sugar or sweetener levels in the final product.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

The substance is authorised at low use levels (4–100 mg/kg in food) and has been assessed by JECFA and the UK FSA with no significant safety concern identified for the general adult population at intended use levels. No IARC classification exists for this specific substance, and no ADI has been formally established by JECFA, indicating it is considered acceptable at the proposed low dietary exposures. No notable sensitive-population concerns beyond standard flavouring precautions have been identified in authoritative sources.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Restricted	FSSAI does not list 'bitter masker flavour' (CAS 1119831-25-2) as a specifically approved flavouring substance. Flavourings in India are governed by FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, Regulation 3.3.1. Use of any flavouring not specifically approved may require prior approval from the Food Authority under FSS (Approval for Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Authorised as a flavour modifier under EU Regulation 1334/2008 (on flavourings). Proposed maximum use levels range from 4 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg depending on food category (e.g., cocoa, green tea products). Also authorised in Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Protocol in line with EU legislation.source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom)	Approved	FSA/FSS advice to Ministers is to authorise for use in Great Britain under Retained EU Regulation 1331/2008. Labelled under general rules for flavourings per Retained EU Regulation 1169/2011 — listed as 'flavouring(s)' or by specific name. Application submitted as set out in Retained EU Regulation 1331/2008. Use levels mirror EU/Northern Ireland legislation.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Children — Bitter taste perception is important in children as a natural aversion mechanism to potentially toxic compounds; suppressing bitterness in foods may inadvertently increase intake of bitter phytochemicals or medications beyond intended levels, as noted in food and pharmaceutical bitterness-masking literature.

Infants — Infants have heightened sensitivity to bitter tastes as a protective reflex; use of bitter-masking flavourings in infant foods is not supported by current regulatory approvals (proposed use categories are adult/general food products) and could interfere with normal taste development.

Pregnancy — As a synthetic flavouring substance with limited long-term human safety data specifically for pregnancy, and given that no ADI has been formally established, pregnant women should consult a doctor before consuming products with this additive routinely.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1other. Consultation pack on applications for authorisation of miscellaneous regulated products: two novel foods, one flavouring and one food additive. food.gov.uk
2EFSA. Food flavouring application procedure — EFSA. efsa.europa.eu
3FDA. Food Additive Status List — FDA. fda.gov
4PubMed. Physical Approaches to Masking Bitter Taste: Lessons from Food and Pharmaceuticals, 2016. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 — Appendix A: List of Food Additives, 2011. fssai.gov.in

Independently researched5 citations