Propylene Glycol プロピレングリコール

In Japan

• It is classified as a manufacturing agent and quality preservative in the standards for use. The limits are 2.0% for fresh noodles and smoked squid products, 1.2% for wrappers of gyoza, shumai, spring rolls and wontons, and 0.60% for other foods.
• Under the Food Labeling Standards, when used to keep chewing gum soft (chewing gum softener), it can be labeled under the group name “軟化剤” (softener). In other cases it is written by the substance name “プロピレングリコール” (propylene glycol).

Japan's standards for use

• Fresh noodles, smoked squid products: 2.0%
• Wrappers for gyoza, shumai, spring rolls and wontons: 1.2%
• Other foods: 0.60%

This is a summary of the standards for use. See the source list for the exact conditions.

In the EU

• It is on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II) as E1520.
• In the EU, it is not permitted to be added directly to food. It is permitted only as a carrier for additives such as colorings, emulsifiers and antioxidants, and for flavorings, enzymes and nutrients (Regulation 1333/2008, Annex III).
• In its 2018 evaluation, EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) set an ADI (acceptable daily intake) of 25mg per kg of body weight per day (EFSA ANS).

Sources

• List of Designated Additives — Japan Food Chemical Research Foundation (Japanese)
• Standards for use and storage of each additive — Japan Food Chemical Research Foundation (Japanese)
• EU food additive database (Japanese translation) — MAFF (Japanese)
• Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives — EUR-Lex
• EFSA OpenFoodTox (chemical hazards database)
• 消費者庁「食品表示基準について」別添 添加物関係（簡略名・類別名一覧、用途名併記の例示、一括名の範囲、栄養強化の範囲ほか） (Japanese)
• EFSA ANS Panel (2018) Re-evaluation of propane-1,2-diol (E 1520) as a food additive (Japanese)

Checked 2026-10-02. Rules and evaluations change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.