Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) is a mixture of products formed by the esterification of polyglycerols with condensed castor oil fatty acids, primarily ricinoleic acid (80–90%). It functions as a water-in-oil emulsifier widely used in chocolate, emulsified sauces, and edible ices to stabilise emulsions, reduce viscosity, and improve texture.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

EFSA re-evaluated PGPR in 2017 and revised its ADI upward to 25 mg/kg body weight per day, concluding it raises no genotoxicity or carcinogenicity concerns and that acute oral toxicity is low; human studies demonstrated no indication of significant adverse effects. The single available reproductive toxicity study was judged by EFSA to be limited and insufficient for deriving a health-based guidance value, leaving some residual uncertainty. A 2022 EFSA follow-up opinion confirmed proposed extensions of use would not give rise to safety concerns but recommended tightening specification limits for heavy metals (arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium) and processing contaminants (glycidyl esters, 3-MCPD).

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia)	Approved	PGPR (INS 476) is already approved for food use in Australia and New Zealand for multiple food categories. Application A1322 (December 2024) seeks additional permission in sauces and toppings (Schedule 15-20.2.0.4) at up to 8,000 mg/kg to enable reduced-oil product formulations.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II and III. ADI revised from 7.5 to 25 mg/kg bw/day by EFSA ANS Panel in 2017. Permitted in cocoa- and chocolate-based products, emulsified sauces, and liquid vegetable oil emulsions (fat ≤70%). Specifications defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012. EFSA 2022 follow-up (pub/7294) recommended amendments to lower heavy-metal limits and add glycidyl ester/3-MCPD limits in the official specifications.source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom)	Approved	UK retains EU-derived specifications under retained Regulation (EC) No 231/2012 post-Brexit. Extension of use in edible ices (up to 4,000 mg/kg) and revised maximum level in emulsified sauces (up to 8,000 mg/kg) were under active safety assessment by AEJEG as of September 2023. Exposure estimates at proposed new levels did not exceed the ADI.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Pregnancy — PGPR is derived from castor oil fatty acids (ricinoleic acid), which has historically been associated with stimulation of uterine contractions, and EFSA noted the single reproductive toxicity study available for PGPR was limited and insufficient for deriving a robust health-based guidance value, leaving residual uncertainty for this population.

Infants — Exposure modelling showed infants can reach among the highest proportional intakes of PGPR relative to body weight (up to 15.2 mg/kg bw/day at regulatory maximum permitted levels), which, while still below the ADI of 25 mg/kg bw/day, warrants monitoring intake in this sensitive group.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FDA. GRAS Notice GRN 1105 Agency Response Letter – Polyglycerol Polyricinoleic Acid (PGPR), 2023. fda.gov
2EFSA. Follow-up of the re-evaluation of polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E 476) as a food additive, 2022. efsa.europa.eu
3PubMed. Follow-up of the re-evaluation of polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E 476) as a food additive, 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4EFSA. Scientific Opinion on re-evaluation of polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E 476) as a food additive, 2017. efsa.europa.eu
5PubMed. Re-evaluation of polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E 476) as a food additive, 2017. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched5 citations