Other names for the additive (synonyms)
General Information
The food additive E1520 is known as propylene glycol or propane-1,2-diol. In the food industry, it serves as a solvent, humectant, and stabiliser. In addition, food additive E1520 improves the consistency of products and acts as a carrier for other ingredients — that is, a substance used to dissolve, stabilise, or evenly distribute other additives or flavouring agents within a food product.
Propylene glycol is virtually not found in nature and is therefore considered a substance of synthetic origin. It does not accumulate in natural sources, is not extracted from plants or minerals, and has no stable natural reservoirs.
Trace amounts of propylene glycol may be formed as by-products of microbiological or biochemical processes (for example, during fermentation), but these quantities are extremely small and cannot serve as a source for industrial production.
At the same time, chemically, additive E1520 is very simple and well studied, which has led to its widespread use not only in food products but also in pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals.
The chemical formula of the substance is C3H8O2. In appearance, additive E1520 is a colourless, almost odourless liquid with a slightly sweet taste. Its history began in the first half of the 20th century, when industry was seeking safer alternatives to toxic solvents. Propylene glycol quickly attracted manufacturers’ attention due to its low toxicity and stable properties.
Additive E1520 is highly soluble in water and resistant to heating and storage. These qualities make it particularly convenient for food technologies.
For the needs of the food industry, food additive E1520 (propylene glycol) is produced industrially from simple organic compounds — mainly through the hydration of propylene oxide, which in turn is manufactured from petrochemical propylene. At the final stage, the product is purified and standardised to food-grade quality.
Effects on the Body
Benefits of Additive E1520
Propylene glycol is not a natural component of the human body and does not perform biologically essential functions. It does not provide direct health benefits; however, it is considered technologically useful, as it helps products maintain uniformity, flavour, and texture.
According to data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), additive E1520 has low toxicity when consumed within established intake limits.
Risks of Additive E1520
After entering the body, propylene glycol is rapidly absorbed and metabolised by the liver, where it is partially converted into lactic acid, while excess amounts are excreted in the urine. In most people, this process does not cause problems.
Potential risks are associated only with excessive intake of the additive. When the acceptable daily intake (ADI) is exceeded, undesirable effects may occur, primarily increased strain on the kidneys and liver.
For example, some studies show that propylene glycol can cause cytotoxicity in cultures of human proximal renal tubular cells — toxicity markers increased in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating a potential effect on kidney tissue at high exposure levels.
Another scientific review on PubMed summarises that in cases of high doses or in individuals with kidney or liver diseases, propylene glycol may lead to metabolic disturbances (acidosis), acute renal failure, and other systemic effects.
Although these materials provide a scientific basis for claims about possible adverse reactions when safe doses are exceeded, they do not constitute evidence that standard dietary use of additive E1520 itself causes these effects. In food products, exposure levels are generally much lower than those studied in toxicological models.
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has established an acceptable daily intake for propylene glycol of up to 25 mg/kg body weight. EFSA confirms the safety of this limit. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies additive E1520 as a substance with GRAS status — generally recognised as safe.
Uses
In the food industry, additive E1520 is used as a humectant, a solvent for flavourings and colourings, and as a consistency stabiliser. It helps to evenly distribute flavours and aromas within products.
The additive can be found in soft drinks, flavoured syrups, chewing gums, desserts, and baked goods. A key feature of propylene glycol is that it is effective even in small quantities and combines well with other ingredients.
In other industrial sectors (in particular plastics manufacturing), it is used as a solvent — most low-molecular-weight organic compounds containing nitrogen and oxygen are fully miscible in propylene glycol.
The substance is also used as a heat-transfer fluid (due to its low toxicity). Low-freezing heat carriers (antifreezes) based on propylene glycol are employed in ventilation, heating, air-conditioning systems, food-processing cooling systems, and heat-exchange equipment.
In addition, the substance is used in the construction industry and automotive engineering (for the production of antifreezes, brake fluids, de-icing fluids, and heat-transfer agents).
Propylene glycol may also be used for disinfection of food industry premises — it is dispersed into the air in the form of an aerosol.
Another area of application for food additive E1520 is smoke machines: propylene glycol helps create visual effects at concerts and shows.
Furthermore, food additive E1520 is widely used in the manufacture of cosmetic products — shampoos, elixirs, pastes, ointments, lipsticks — as well as in the pharmaceutical industry.
Legal Status
Propylene glycol (E1520) is authorised for use in most countries worldwide. In the European Union, it is officially permitted in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as a food additive with an established ADI. In Ukraine, additive E1520 is also included in the list of permitted food additives in line with harmonised European standards.
In the United States, the substance has GRAS status and is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Canada and Japan allow the use of propylene glycol subject to established quantitative limits.
