Abstract
The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety reviewed updated information that has become available since their original assessment from 1983, along with updated information regarding product types, and frequency and concentrations of use, and reaffirmed their original conclusion that Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal is safe for topical application to humans in the practices of use and concentration as described in this report.
The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) first published the Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Sweet Almond Oil and Almond Meal in 1983. 1 On the basis of the available animal data and limited clinical experience presented in the report, the Panel concluded that Almond Meal (now named Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal) is safe for topical application to humans in the present practices of use and concentration. Upon re-review in November 2002, the Panel reaffirmed the original conclusion, as published in 2005. 2 Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil was not considered in this re-review because it was included in the safety assessment of plant-derived fatty acids, published in 2017. 3
Frequency and Concentration of Use (2022/2002) According to Likely Duration and Exposure and by Product Category.
NR, not reported.
aReported as Prunus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal in the 2022 VCRP.
bBecause each ingredient may be used in cosmetics with multiple exposure types, the sum of all exposure types may not equal the sum of total uses.
cLikely duration and exposure is derived based on product category (see Use Categorization https://www.cir-safety.org/cir-findings).
dIt is possible these products are sprays, but it is not specified whether the reported uses are sprays.
eNot specified whether a spray or a powder, but it is possible the use can be as a spray or a powder; therefore, the information is captured in both categories.
In January 2023, an extensive search of the world’s literature was performed for studies dated 1997 forward. No new toxicological data were found.
In summary, the Panel reviewed 2022 frequency and concentration of use data and noted the lack of any new, available, relevant safety data. Considering this information, as well as the information provided in the original safety assessment and the prior re-review document, the Panel reaffirmed the 1983 conclusion. The Panel discussed the possibility for this ingredient to be used in cosmetic products which may be incidentally inhaled. A detailed discussion and summary of the Panel’s approach to evaluating incidental inhalation exposures to ingredients in cosmetic products is available at https://www.cir-safety.org/cir-findings.
Footnotes
Author’s Note
Unpublished sources cited in this report are available from the Director, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, 1620 L Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20036, USA.
Author Contributions
The articles in this supplement were sponsored by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review.
Declaration of Conflicting Interest
The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The articles in this supplement were sponsored by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review.
Funding
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The articles in this supplement were sponsored by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review is financially supported by the Personal Care Products Council.