Comparing E415 - Xanthan gum vs E422 - Glycerol

Synonyms
E415
Xanthan gum
xanthan
E-415
e 415
E422
Glycerol
Glycerin
Glycerine
vegetable glycerine
Products

Found in 37,379 products

Found in 12,762 products

Search rank & volume
#2590K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#5167.1K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×0.35
under-aware

×1.91
over-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 5 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 5 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions
  1. Is xanthan gum bad for you?

    No—at typical food levels it isn’t considered harmful; it’s approved for use in the U.S. and EU. Very high intakes can cause gas or a laxative effect in some people.

  2. Is xanthan gum safe?

    Yes—xanthan gum (E415) is approved by regulators like the FDA and EFSA and is considered safe at normal food-use levels. Large supplemental amounts may cause digestive upset, and xanthan-gum–based thickeners are not recommended for premature infants.

  3. What is xanthan gum made from?

    It’s a polysaccharide made by fermenting simple sugars (often from corn, sugarcane, or wheat) with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris, then precipitated, dried, and milled into a powder.

  4. Is xanthan gum bad for dogs?

    No—it's not considered toxic to dogs, and small amounts used in pet foods are generally safe. Large amounts may cause diarrhea or gas, so avoid overuse and consult a vet if your dog has GI sensitivities.

  5. What does xanthan gum do?

    It works as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier—adding viscosity, suspending particles, and preventing separation. In gluten-free baking it helps bind dough and improve texture, and it’s shear‑thinning so it pours easily but thickens at rest.

  1. What is vegetable glycerin?

    Vegetable glycerin is glycerol (E422) derived from plant oils (e.g., soybean, palm, coconut); it’s chemically identical to other glycerin and commonly used as a humectant and sweetener.

  2. Is glycerin bad for you?

    Generally no—at typical food and cosmetic levels it’s considered safe (FDA GRAS; EFSA found no safety concern at reported uses); large amounts may cause bloating, diarrhea, or thirst.

  3. Is glycerin good for your skin?

    Yes—glycerin is a humectant that draws and holds water in the outer skin layers, helping hydration and barrier function; very high, undiluted use can feel sticky or occasionally irritate.

  4. What is glycerin used for?

    In foods it works as a humectant, mild sweetener, thickener, and solvent/carrier for flavors and colors to keep products moist and stable; it’s also used in pharmaceuticals and personal care as a moisturizer, solvent, and plasticizer.

  5. What is glycerin made of?

    It’s most often produced by hydrolysis, saponification, or transesterification of natural triglycerides from plant or animal fats; it can also be made by microbial fermentation of sugars or synthetically from petrochemical routes.