Maintains moisture, thickener, emulsifier, antioxidant, anticaking agent: ice cream, cake mixes, cream­ers, frozen meals, frosting, baked goods, snacks, candy, nuts, pickles, dressings, condiments.

Propylene glycol is used in a wide range of food products, often to maintain moisture, as well as thicken, emulsify, and preserve foods. It can also lower the freezing point of water, like its more toxic chemical cousin, ethylene glycol, used in antifreeze. Some people are allergic to propylene glycol in foods, as well as in personal care products and topical cortisone creams, and should avoid it.

Back to Chemical Cuisine