Diacetyl
CAS Number: 431-03-8
Diacetyl (CAS 431-03-8) is a natural vicinal diketone produced during fermentation, responsible for the characteristic buttery, creamy flavor of butter, cream, and certain fermented dairy products and wines. It is a key flavor ingredient in the food industry for imparting authentic butter and cream notes to a wide range of food applications.
Technical Specifications
| appearance | Yellow-green liquid |
| purity (%) | ≥99.0 |
| assay method | GC |
| refractive index | 1.393–1.397 |
Applications
- Butter and cream flavor in bakery, confectionery, and snack products
- Dairy product flavoring including margarine, popcorn seasoning, and ice cream
- Wine and beer fermentation flavor marker and enhancement
- Microwave popcorn and corn snack product buttery flavoring
- Ready-to-eat meal and soup product flavor enhancement
Key Features
- Authentic butter character at very low usage levels with high flavor impact
- FEMA GRAS listed with extensive history of food use worldwide
- Naturally produced by fermentation, enabling natural-flavor label claims
- Available in food-grade quality with low acidity for clean buttery flavor