We often buy processed foods like salad dressings, sauces, and cake mixes from the store or supermarket. When we look at their labels, we can see that there are many unfamiliar, chemical-like ingredients . When we see these, we sometimes feel a little scared, "Is it okay to eat these things?" One of the ingredients found in many such foods is Propylene Glycol.
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Simply put, what is Propylene Glycol?
Propylene Glycol, or PG for short, is a colorless, odorless, thick liquid. It's almost tasteless. It's usually made from petroleum, but now some companies are even making it from plants like canola and soybeans.
This is very useful in the food industry, as it helps maintain the moisture, consistency, and texture of food. That is, it is used to keep the texture of the food unchanged. Sometimes, it may be mentioned by other names on the label of the food you buy. For example:
- Trimethyl glycol
- Methyl ethyl glycol
- 1,2-dihydroxypropane
- 1,2-propanediol
- E1520
It can enter our bodies through the food we eat, the creams we apply, some medications, and even some of the mists in the air we breathe. So, it's likely that we're all exposed to it to some extent.
What kinds of things are added to foods with Propylene Glycol?
It is used in the food industry for various purposes because it has several special properties. Since it has no taste or color, we don't even notice that it has been added to food.
| Use | Simply put, the work that happens |
|---|---|
| Thickener | It thickens food, improving its flavor and mouthfeel. |
| Emulsifier | Things that normally don't mix, like oil and water, are bound together. |
| Stabilizer | Helps maintain the consistency of food. |
| Anticaking agent | It stops powders like cake mixes, salt powder, and cocoa powder from sticking together and forming lumps. |
| Humectant (as a moisturizer) | It preserves moisture in baked goods and reduces drying out. |
| Antioxidant | Increases the shelf life of food. |
Most importantly, all of this is done to improve the appearance, taste, and shelf life of the food.
Other uses besides food
- To create artificial smoke during fire drills and theatrical performances.
- To create vapor in e-cigarettes.
- To remove moisture from medicines and keep them stable.
- To prevent the growth of bacteria in cosmetics.
- In antifreeze liquids, to prevent water from freezing and keep it in a liquid state.
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Check Availability →What foods may contain Propylene Glycol?
Many packaged foods we buy at the market may contain these. Some examples are:
- Types of salad dressings
- Dried soups
- Baking mixes for making things like cakes, muffins, and biscuits
- Powdered drink mixes
- Some soft drinks and alcohol
- Food coloring and flavoring extracts
- Types of ice cream
- Sauces and mayonnaise
- Marshmallows
Simply put, these can be found in many prepared foods purchased at the store instead of being made at home.
Is this really a health risk?
This is where many people have problems. In the United States, agencies like the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) say that Propylene Glycol is "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) in the amounts added to foods. This means that the small amounts in food do not cause significant harm to the average healthy person.
However, it is good for us to be aware of some risks.
Is there an effect on people with kidney and liver disease?
If your kidneys and liver are functioning properly, about 45% of the Propylene Glycol that enters your body is excreted unchanged in your urine. The rest is broken down by your body into lactic acid.
However, this process is difficult for the body of a person with kidney disease or liver disease to perform properly. Then, lactic acid accumulates in the body and a condition called Acidosis, that is, a dangerous increase in the acidity of the body. Although this is a very rare occurrence, it is important for people with such medical conditions to be careful when eating prepared foods.
Allergic Reactions
A very small number of people may develop an allergic reaction to Propylene Glycol. The most common reactions are skin reactions. Redness , itching , and dermatitis-like conditions may occur on the face or body.
Heart attack risk?
This is a scary thing for many people. But the truth is, there is no evidence that the amount of food you eat increases your risk of heart disease . The only cases of heart palpitations and low blood pressure have been reported when very high doses of Propylene Glycol were injected to dilute a medication. So don't be afraid to eat.
Don't confuse Propylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol!
This is very important. When some people hear the name Propylene Glycol, they confuse it with Ethylene Glycol, the toxic antifreeze fluid used in car radiators. These two are completely different things.
Ethylene Glycol is a very toxic chemical. However, antifreeze made with Propylene Glycol is considered non-toxic . So don't be alarmed by the similarity of the two names.
Who is at risk of Propylene Glycol toxicity?
It is correct to say that Propylene Glycol poisoning does not occur from the amount consumed in food. For that to happen, a much larger amount than would be found in a normal meal would have to be ingested. Such a situation often occurs in special cases, such as when a large dose of medication is injected.
There are several groups that are particularly at risk:
- People with kidney or liver disease: Their bodies have a reduced ability to remove these.
- Children under 4 years of age and pregnant mothers: They have low levels of the enzyme Alcohol Dehydrogenase'', which is needed to break down Propylene Glycol.
- Patients who use large amounts of creams containing Propylene Glycol for burn wounds.
- Epileptic patients taking high doses of medication.
If someone is poisoned in this way, dialysis is the treatment. If there is any suspicion that someone has ingested something poisonous, the immediate action should be to call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital or take the patient to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
How to avoid Propylene Glycol?
If you're still concerned about this, there are a few simple ways to reduce the amount of Propylene Glycol in your diet:
1. Read the labels: Before buying anything from the store, read the ingredients list. See if it says Propylene Glycol or E1520.
2. Reduce processed foods: Try to make as many salad dressings, cake mixes, and sauces at home as possible instead of buying them from the store.
3. Focus on fresh, whole foods: Focus on natural foods like vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish. The less processed foods you eat, the less additives you unknowingly put into your body.
If you have any doubts or questions about a food or an ingredient in it, talk to your doctor about it.
💡 Take-Home Message
- Propylene Glycol is a food additive classified as "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) and used to improve the flavor, consistency, and shelf life of foods.
- A healthy body can easily eliminate the small amounts it receives from food. It is almost completely eliminated from the body within 48 hours.
- It is important for people with kidney or liver disease, young children, and pregnant mothers to be extra careful when consuming prepared foods.
- Propylene Glycol is not the same as Ethylene Glycol, which is a toxic antifreeze. Don't confuse the two.
- If you have doubts about this, the best solution is to reduce processed foods and focus on fresh foods.
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