Bitrex ® - denatonium benzoate - Poisoning prevention and product safety aversive agent, bittering agent, ingestion deterrent

Adding Bitrex to Your Products

Bitrex is stable, inert and easily added to most products. For ease of handling, many manufacturers use our standard Bitrex solutions of Propylene Glycol, Ethylene Glycol or Ethanol. This reduces mixing time and bitter taste exposures. Technical and regulatory support are readily available for consulting on any questions.

What concentration of Bitrex should be used?
Use ranges from 20-500 ppm (0.002% to 0.050%) in most consumer products.
Studies on human taste testing of antifreeze with Bitrex, published by Macfarlan Smith in 1993 (SAE Technical Paper 930589), determined a minimum aversive level of 30 ppm Bitrex.

Is Bitrex stable?
Yes, Bitrex is stable and inert in most products. However, Bitrex is not stable in strong oxidizers such as bleach and peroxide and will not be bitter if added to these types of products. The Bitrex Trademark Program includes formulation review and shelf life testing to ensure bitterness for the life of the product.

How do we determine a minimum level of Bitrex
that will be effective?
The only accurate way to determine effective levels is human taste testing, which Macfarlan Smith will do free of charge in the Bitrex Trademark Program.
Macfarlan Smith has taste tested thousands of products and has an extensive database to advise on initial ranges of concentration for stability and costing purposes.

What affects bitter taste perception in a product?
Many factors can affect bitter taste perception in a product, including physical form (liquid, gel, solid), solids content, viscosity, inherent taste and fragrance. Minor changes in formulation can affect use levels by 50%.

Will Bitrex affect product performance?
At effective levels Bitrex does not affect performance, appearance, stability or odor of most products. Some high oil concentration products may require reformulation techniques. Our chemists are available for assistance in this area.

What is the analytical method to determine
low Bitrex concentrations?
Under the Bitrex Trademark Program Macfarlan Smith develops and certifies an analytical method specific to each product. The preferred method is HPLC.

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