Friday, February 18, 2005

What is Denatonium benzoate?

Denatonium Benzoate is the world’s bitterest known substance. If your not sure what it would taste like, then think back to when you were young and you used to bite your nails. If it bothered your parent, then I'm sure you may have tasted it in the form of an anti-nail biting solution. YUCK! Yes, that aweful bitter taste!

By adding as little as thirty (30) parts of Denatonium Benzoate to one million parts of a liquid, it makes any liquid too bitter to be tolerated by most human subjects. The Guinness Book of Records has described this substance as the bitterest compound known to man.

For the chemistry buffs, Denatonium Benzoate is a close relative of the local anesthetic lidocaine – its structure differs from lidocaine by the addition of a single benzyl group.

Because of its aversive reaction, Denatonium Benzoate is increasingly being used as an aversion additive. When added to household items, such as toiletries and to outdoor products such as pesticides, it helps to prevent accidental poisonings.

Denatonium Benzoate is a very bitter product and as a result, companies are turning towards this to provide their customers with added protection. As consumers, we too should be asking "Does this product contain the bittering agent, Denatonium Benzoate, the most bitterest substance in the world?"

What products do you want to see Denatonium benzoate be added in?