Propylene glycol

E number E1520INS 1520CAS 57-55-6

Used as an emulsifier — Codex also lists it as carrier, glazing agent, humectant.

Propylene glycol is a humectant and carrier solvent, used to hold flavours and colours in solution and to keep foods moist. It is a common carrier in flavourings, which is how it reaches many products indirectly.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Propylene glycol by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
JurisdictionStatusScope and limitsCitation
United StatesFood and Drug AdministrationPermitted21 CFR 184.1666retrieved 2026-09-07
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFAPermitted, with conditions

13 food categories

highest permitted level 20,000 mg/kg

Show every food category
  • 04.1.2.8 Fruit preparations, including pulp, purees, fruit toppings and coconut milk — 2,000 mg/kg
  • 05.1.3 Cocoa-based spreads, incl. fillings — 1,000 mg/kg
  • 05.2.1 Hard candy — 5,300 mg/kg
  • 05.2.2 Soft candy — 4,500 mg/kg
  • 05.2.3 Nougats and marzipans — 1,000 mg/kg
  • 05.3 Chewing gum — 20,000 mg/kg
  • 06.4.1 Fresh pastas and noodles and like products — 20,000 mg/kg
  • 06.4.3 Pre-cooked pastas and noodles and like products — 10,000 mg/kg
  • 07.1 Bread and ordinary bakery wares and mixes — 1,500 mg/kg
  • 07.2 Fine bakery wares (sweet, salty, savoury) and mixes — 1,500 mg/kg
  • 12.6.1 Emulsified sauces and dips (e.g. mayonnaise, salad dressing, onion dips) — 1,000 mg/kg
  • 13.6 Food supplements — 2,000 mg/kg
  • 15.1 Snacks - potato, cereal, flour or starch based (from roots and tubers, pulses and legumes) — 300 mg/kg
CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 1520and 12 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07

What it is made from

Produced from petroleum-derived propylene oxide. It should not be confused with ethylene glycol, the toxic antifreeze compound, which is a different substance.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
CAS registry number
57-55-6
InChIKey
DNIAPMSPPWPWGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N
PubChem
CID 1030

Every name it appears under

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

E number

  • E1520

INS number

  • 1520

CAS registry number

  • 57-55-6

As it appears in regulation

  • Propylene glycol

Other names

  • (+-)-1,2-Propanediol
  • (+-)-Propylene glycol
  • (2RS)-PROPANE-1,2-DIOL
  • (RS)-1,2-Propanediol
  • 1,2 Propanediol
  • 1,2-(RS)-Propanediol
  • 1,2-dihydroxypropane
  • 1,2-Propandiol
  • 1,2-propanediol
  • 1,2-Propylene glycol
  • 1,2-Propylenglykol
  • 2-Hydroxypropanol
  • alpha-Propylene glycol
  • alpha-Propyleneglycol
  • Baby Wipes
  • CVS Lubricant Eye Drops 15mL
  • DEROFEN MIEL
  • DL-1,2-Propanediol
  • dl-Propylene glycol
  • Dowfrost
  • E 1520
  • EGHMTW hair oil
  • Equate Support Moisture Lubricant Eye
  • Eyelash and Eyebrow Lengthener
  • FEMA No. 2940
  • GENERAL OB LUBRICANT
  • Glycol, Propylene
  • Hot Sweat Cream
  • Ins no.1520
  • Isopropylene glycol
  • KETO-TREAT
  • Kilfrost ABC-S
  • Kollisolv pg
  • Methyl Ethyl Glycol
  • Methyl glycol
  • Methylethyl glycol
  • Methylethylene glycol
  • Monohydrate, Propylene Glycol
  • Monopropylene glycol
  • MSM (MoSaengMo)
  • Polypeptidemulti-Effectseye Cream
  • Propan-1,2-Diol
  • Propane-1,2-diol
  • propylene glycol
  • Propylene glycol (solvent)
  • propylene glycol cefatrizine
  • Propylene glycol dl-
  • Propylene Glycol USP
  • Propyleneglycolum
  • Sentry Propylene Glycol
  • Sirlene
  • Solar Winter BAN
  • Solargard P
  • Systane Balance
  • Systane COMPLETE
  • Systane COMPLETE PF
  • Systane Pro PF
  • Trimethyl glycol
  • Ucar 35
  • Walgreen Sterile Lubricant
  • Walgreens Lubricant Eye Drops

Systematic names

  • propane-1,2-diol

Hazard reference values

Values set by assessing bodies. A body that has not set a value is not listed here.
TypeValuePopulationAssessed byOpinion
ADI25 mg/kg bw/dayconsumersEFSAnot identified in the dataset

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/propylene-glycol.json