About
What it is and where it shows up.
Propylene glycol (propane-1,2-diol) is a colorless, odorless, water-soluble liquid used in food as a humectant, solvent, stabilizer, and carrier for flavors and colors. It is found in canned fruits, packaged coconut, baked goods, flavorings, and extracts.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
Broadly recognized as safe for the general adult population; FDA classifies it as GRAS under 21 CFR §184.1666 and EFSA has established an ADI of 25 mg/kg bw/day that typical dietary exposure does not approach. Rare cases of systemic contact dermatitis upon ingestion have been documented in sensitized individuals. Neonates and young children face markedly lower safety thresholds due to immature metabolic and renal clearance.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Authorised as E 1520 under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (Annex II and III); ADI of 25 mg/kg bw/day first established by SCF in 1996 and reconfirmed by EFSA ANS Panel in 2018 re-evaluation. Specifications defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.source |
| Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom) | Approved | Authorised as E 1520 (propane-1,2-diol) under Assimilated Regulation (EU) No 1333/2008 (Annex II and III); status effective 31 December 2020 following Brexit. Last updated 01 April 2025.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Listed as INS 1520 under Table 12 (Generally Permitted Processing Aids) for all foods at GMP levels per FSSAI Food Products Standards and Food Additives Regulations 2011, as confirmed in the 2024 FSSAI direction under Section 16(5).source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | GRAS under 21 CFR §184.1666 as a direct food additive (humectant, solvent, carrier) in numerous food categories. Explicitly banned in cat food under 21 CFR §589.1001.source |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Infants — EMA guidance concludes that the safety threshold for propylene glycol is 1 mg/kg/day in pre-term and term neonates due to known immaturity of both metabolic and renal clearance, making even low exposure from food or pharmaceutical carriers a meaningful risk.
Children — EMA guidance reduces the safe threshold to 50 mg/kg/day for children under 5 years (versus 500 mg/kg/day for adults and children ≥5), reflecting reduced metabolic clearance; cumulative intake from multiple processed foods should be monitored.
Other — Individuals sensitized to propylene glycol via topical exposure may experience systemic contact dermatitis flares upon dietary ingestion, as documented in published case reports (ATSDR, 2008).
Kidney Disease — Propylene glycol is primarily cleared via renal pathways, and significantly impaired renal function may reduce clearance, increasing the risk of accumulation at higher intake levels from cumulative food and pharmaceutical sources.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1FDA. Propylene Glycol – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, Section 184.1666. accessdata.fda.gov
- 2FSSAI. Active List of Processing Aids Allowed for Use by Food Business Operators (FSSAI Direction under Section 16(5), 2024), 2024. fssai.gov.in
- 3EFSA. Re-evaluation of propane-1,2-diol (E 1520) as a food additive, 2018. efsa.europa.eu
- 4PubMed. Re-evaluation of propane-1,2-diol (E 1520) as a food additive, 2018. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5other. Toxicological Profile for Propylene Glycol – Addendum (ATSDR, 2008), 2008. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Independently researched5 citations