This article was published in FDA Consumer magazine several years ago. It is no longer being maintained and may contain information that is out of date. You may find more current information on this topic in more recent issues of FDA Consumer or elsewhere on the FDA Website, by checking the site index or home page , or by searching the site. The Food and Drug Administration is carefully evaluating studies to determine if there could be a long-term health risk to consumers from urethane in alcoholic beverages.
Urethane is a chemical substance that forms naturally during the fermentation process.
It causes cancer in animals, but it is not known if it poses any significant health risk to humans. Based on data currently available, FDA does not believe that urethane levels in alcoholic beverages currently on the market are an immediate short-term health risk. Until all scientific research is completed and evaluated, and regulations established, FDA is working with industry to reduce any potential risk to humans from urethane and is participating in tests to find out if the small amounts of urethane present in alcoholic beverages might be harmful. Industry has voluntarily agreed to develop and use manufacturing techniques to reduce urethane's levels as much as possible. In addition, at FDA's request, the National Toxicology Program, a federally funded research group, has done an initial study in animals to help FDA determine if urethane in alcohol poses a significant risk to humans.