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E422 Glycerol: Uses, Safety and Effects

E422 is the EU food additive code for glycerol (glycerin), a natural sugar alcohol widely used as a humectant, softener, and sweetener in food products.

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Things worth knowing about "E422"

E422 is the EU food additive code for glycerol (glycerin), a natural sugar alcohol widely used as a humectant, softener, and sweetener in food products.

What is E422 (Glycerol)?

E422 is the European approval number for glycerol (also known as glycerin or glycerine), a trihydric alcohol that occurs naturally in animal and plant fats. As a food additive, glycerol is primarily used as a humectant, preventing food products from drying out. It is a colourless, odourless liquid with a mildly sweet taste, and it is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries.

Origin and Production

Glycerol can be obtained from several sources:

Plant-based sources: Glycerol is produced as a by-product during the saponification of vegetable oils and fats (e.g. palm oil, coconut oil, soybean oil). This form is considered vegan.
Animal-based sources: Glycerol can also be derived from animal fats such as tallow.
Synthetic production: Industrially, glycerol is also synthesised from propylene, a petroleum derivative.
Biodiesel by-product: Large quantities of glycerol are generated as a co-product during biodiesel manufacturing.

For food applications, plant-based or synthetic glycerol is predominantly used. The exact origin is generally not specified on ingredient labels, so vegans who wish to verify the source should contact the manufacturer directly.

Functions and Uses in Food

E422 serves several technological purposes in food products:

Humectant: Glycerol attracts and retains moisture, keeping food products soft and moist for longer (e.g. baked goods, confectionery, chewing gum).
Softener / Plasticiser: It improves the texture and pliability of foods and food packaging materials.
Solvent: Glycerol acts as a carrier for flavourings, colorants, and other additives.
Sweetener: With approximately 60% of the sweetness of sucrose, glycerol can be used as a reduced-calorie sweetener. It provides around 4.3 kcal per gram.
Stabiliser and thickener: In certain products, glycerol helps to improve consistency and stability.
Cryoprotectant: In ice cream and frozen products, glycerol helps prevent the formation of large ice crystals.

Typical Food Products Containing E422

Baked goods (cakes, muffins, soft caramels)
Confectionery and chocolate coatings
Chewing gum and sweets
Sugar-free and reduced-calorie products
Cereal and energy bars
Liqueurs and alcoholic beverages
Gelatin capsules and pharmaceutical preparations

Safety and Health Assessment

Glycerol is one of the most thoroughly studied food additives. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has classified E422 as safe for use in food. No Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) value has been established, as no health concerns have been identified at typical dietary intake levels.

Digestion: Glycerol is largely absorbed in the intestine and converted in the liver into glucose or fatty acids, making it calorically available.
Laxative effect: In large quantities (approximately 50 g or more per day), glycerol may have a laxative effect and cause bloating or diarrhoea.
Diabetics: Since glycerol has only a minimal effect on blood glucose levels, it is used in products marketed as suitable for diabetics. However, it does provide calories.
Allergies: Glycerol is considered hypoallergenic; allergic reactions are extremely rare.

Glycerol in Medicine and Pharmacy

Beyond its use as a food additive, glycerol is widely used in medical and pharmaceutical applications:

Laxative: Glycerol suppositories are used to treat constipation.
Skin care: As a moisturising ingredient in lotions, creams, and wound dressings, glycerol protects the skin from drying out.
Pharmaceutical excipient: Glycerol serves as a solvent and binder in tablets, capsules, and syrups.
Eye drops: In ophthalmic preparations, glycerol is used to relieve dry eye symptoms.

Labelling and Regulation

In the European Union, E422 is authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives. It may be used in numerous food categories, generally at quantum satis levels (i.e. the amount necessary to achieve the intended technological purpose). On ingredient labels, it appears as E422, glycerol, or glycerin.

References

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of glycerol (E 422) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 2017.
European Commission: Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives.
Burdock, G.A.: Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press, 6th edition, 2010.

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