Propane-1,2-diol (E490): What It Is and Is It Safe?
Propane-1,2-diol, commonly called propylene glycol, is a synthetic diol used as a humectant, solvent and carrier for flavourings and colours. EFSA re-evaluated it in 2018 under the EU number E1520 and kept an ADI of 25 mg/kg body weight per day, finding no safety concern at that level but noting that intake could exceed the ADI in high-consuming toddlers and children. It is rapidly metabolised, and adverse systemic effects such as raised blood osmolality and lactate occur only at exposures far above dietary intake.
- Category
- Humectant / Solvent — Propylene glycol
- Typically used in
- Humectant and carrier solvent for flavourings, colours and extracts.
- Regulatory status
- Authorised in the EU as E1520; EFSA ADI 25 mg/kg body weight per day.
- Also listed as
- Propylene Glycol
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Where this comes from
- EFSA (2018) — Re-evaluation of propane-1,2-diol E 1520 as a food additive https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5235
- PubMed US NLM (2018) — Re-evaluation of propane-1,2-diol E 1520 as a food additive https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32625872/
Products containing Propane-1,2-diol
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