Database/Antistatic/Methionine
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Methionine natural?

It depends. Cosmetic-grade methionine is likely fermentation-derived like other personal-care amino acids, but most world methionine tonnage is synthesised petrochemically for animal feed.

INCI nameMethionine
CAS59-51-8
FormulaC5H11NO2S · 149.21 Da
FunctionAntistatic · Hair Conditioning
FeedstockCosmetic and food-grade L-Methionine is typically produced by…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
Microbial fermentation (L-Methionine)plant-sugar fermentation1.00likely dominant for cosmetic-grade material
Chemical synthesis (Strecker/hydantoin, mainly DL-Methionine)petrochemical acrolein, methanethiol, hydrogen cyanide0.00dominates global tonnage, mostly animal feed
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Amino acid, not a mixed molecule: fermentation route = 1.0; large-scale petrochemical Strecker/hydantoin synthesis (mainly animal-feed grade) = 0.0.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Cosmetic and food-grade L-Methionine is typically produced by bacterial fermentation of plant sugars. However, the large majority of global methionine (mostly DL-form) is synthesised from petrochemical acrolein, methanethiol and hydrogen cyanide for animal feed.

In plain English

An amino acid used to condition hair and skin and reduce static. Cosmetic grades are usually made by fermenting plant sugars, though much of the world's supply is made synthetically for animal feed.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Asparagine 100% natural origin

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 Aspartic Acid 100% natural origin

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Structure

2D structure of Methionine

(2S)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanylbutanoic acid

PubChem CID 6137 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Methionine. PubChem CID 6137. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3METHIONINE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4METHIONINE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=METHIONINE