Acetaldehyde is used as a flavouring substance due to its fruity aroma. The Senate Commission on the Food Safety (German SKLM) of the German Research Foundation has reviewed the current data situation for assessing the health risk of the use of acetaldehyde as a flavouring substance. In view of numerous data gaps that need to be closed for a complete risk assessment and the resulting uncertainties, the commission concludes that there are doubts about the safety of acetaldehyde as a flavouring substance. In the opinion of the SKLM, the deliberate addition of acetaldehyde as a flavouring substance should therefore be re-evaluated for reasons of precautionary consumer protection.