Comparing E422 - Glycerol vs E490 - Propylene glycol
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 12,762 products
Found in 0 products
Search rank & volume
Awareness score
Awareness data is not available.
Search volume over time
Interest over time for 5 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Interest over time for 9 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Popular questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is propylene glycol safe?
Yes—when used within regulatory limits in foods, propylene glycol is considered safe; the FDA classifies it as GRAS and EFSA set an acceptable daily intake of 25 mg/kg body weight per day.
What is propylene glycol used for?
In foods it acts as a solvent and carrier for flavors and colors, a humectant to retain moisture, and sometimes a stabilizer; it’s also used as a solvent in medicines and cosmetics.
Does propylene glycol cause cancer?
No—major health agencies do not classify propylene glycol as carcinogenic, and studies have not linked typical exposures to cancer.
Is propylene glycol antifreeze?
Yes, it’s used as a less‑toxic antifreeze/heat‑transfer fluid (e.g., RV or food‑industry systems), which is separate from its low‑level use in foods.
Is propylene glycol bad for you?
At normal food levels it isn’t considered harmful; very high intakes can cause irritation or metabolic effects, and people with kidney or liver disease and infants may be more sensitive.