Polyvinylpyrrolidone

E number E1201INS 1201CAS 9003-39-8

Used as an emulsifier — Codex also lists it as glazing agent, stabilizer, thickener.

Polyvinylpyrrolidone is a clarifying agent and binder, used to remove haze from beer, wine and vinegar and as a tablet binder.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Polyvinylpyrrolidone by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
JurisdictionStatusScope and limitsCitation
United StatesFood and Drug AdministrationPermitted, with conditions21 CFR 173.55retrieved 2026-09-07
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFAPermitted, with conditions

8 food categories

highest permitted level 10,000 mg/kg

Show every food category
  • 04.1.1.2 Surface-treated fresh fruit — GMP
  • 05.3 Chewing gum — 10,000 mg/kg
  • 11.6 Table-top sweeteners, including those containing high-intensity sweeteners — 3,000 mg/kg
  • 12.3 Vinegars — 40 mg/kg
  • 13.6 Food supplements — GMP
  • 14.1.4.3 Concentrates (liquid or solid) for water-based flavoured drinks — 500 mg/kg
  • 14.2.1 Beer and malt beverages — 10 mg/kg
  • 14.2.2 Cider and perry — 2 mg/kg
CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 1201and 7 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07

What it is made from

A synthetic polymer made from vinylpyrrolidone. Unlike its cross-linked relative PVPP it is soluble, so it stays in the product rather than being filtered out.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
CAS registry number
9003-39-8

Every name it appears under

9 recorded names. A label may use any of them.

E number

  • E1201

INS number

  • 1201

CAS registry number

  • 9003-39-8

As it appears in regulation

  • Polyvinylpyrrolidone

Other names

  • E 1201
  • Polyvinylpyrrolidone
  • Povidone
  • PVP
  • Soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone

Hazard reference values

No reference value for this substance in the sources we hold.

Evidence and how bodies read it

Studies, and the differing conclusions regulators drew from them, are curated by hand rather than machine-read, and none has been written for this substance yet.

Sources for this page

  • ecfr retrieved 2026-09-07
  • gsfa retrieved 2026-09-07

Full licence terms and publisher details on Sources. How this page is built and updated: Method.

Machine-readable:/api/v1/additives/polyvinylpyrrolidone.json