YenzoWhat is E1519 (benzyl alcohol)?
E1519 is benzyl alcohol. In the Codex CXG 36 functional classes it belongs to the carrier class. In the EU, EFSA notes it is authorised as a food additive under Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.
E1519Benzyl alcohol
E1519 is benzyl alcohol. In the Codex CXG 36 functional classes it belongs to: carrier.
Did you know? Benzyl alcohol is also on the EU list of authorised flavouring substances (FL-no 02.010) and is registered by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as an excipient in medicinal products.
- Code
- E1519 · INS 1519
- Group
- Carrier
In VietnamNot on Vietnam's list of permitted additivesNot on Vietnam's list of permitted additives (Circular 24/2019); it may be used only in a product whose declaration is registered with the Vietnam Food Administration
Risk level on the Yenzo Scalelow?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy
How E1519 appears on labels
IngredientsIllustrative example
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, carrier (1519), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
carrier (1519)carrier 1519E1519INS 1519
Questions about benzyl alcohol
Is benzyl alcohol harmful?
In 2019 EFSA set an ADI of 4 mg/kg body weight a day for benzyl alcohol (E 1519), based on a level of 400 mg/kg body weight a day with no observed adverse effect in a rat study. Exposure estimates were below the ADI in all population groups, and EFSA concluded that exposure does not raise a safety concern at the reported uses and use levels. The main contributing food category in the refined scenarios was cocoa and chocolate products.
Can children and pregnant women have E1519?
EFSA (2019) states that benzyl alcohol is not authorised in food for infants below 16 weeks of age. In toddlers the estimated exposure was at most 0.27 mg/kg body weight a day (mean) and 0.81 (high), both below the ADI of 4 mg/kg body weight a day. The source says nothing specific about pregnant women. If you have a particular health condition, ask a doctor.
Other carriers
E1505Triethyl citratevery lowE1510EthanollowE1517Glyceryl diacetate (diacetin)lowE1518Glyceryl triacetate (triacetin)lowE1520Propane-1,2-diol (propylene glycol)lowE1521Polyethylene glycollow
See all carriers →Updated 21 October 2026
Sources (4)
- Open Food Facts additives taxonomy (Yenzo's table cites no EFSA opinion for this code). Open Food Facts additives taxonomy, https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/blob/main/taxonomies/additives.txt (entry en:e1519)
- Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 1
- Re-evaluation of benzyl alcohol (E 1519) as food additive. EFSA Journal 2019;17(10):5876
- Codex CAC/GL 36-1989 (Rev. 2008, Amd. 2015), Section 3: INS 1519 Benzyl alcohol