Food:

Taste, fun and convenience

Propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) is the ideal carrier of a large variety of flavours that give most of today's food and beverage their distinctive taste: The substance itself is colour-, taste- and odourless, and it does not react on its own, which means that it can perform its function without impacting on other product attributes. It has been confirmed as safe and hygienic, and provides unique inherent properties with regard to holding/attracting both water- and oil-based substances. In food it is used to retain food colour pigments and distribute them evenly within the mixture.

Propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) has been approved for use as a food additive under the E-number E 1520. In direct food contact it is mainly used as

• solvent and carrier of flavour or colour in the food and beverage manufacturing processes, to make drinks, biscuits, cakes, sweets
• thickener, clarifier and stabiliser in food and beverage such as beer, salad dressings or baking mixtures

In indirect food contact, i.e. during industrial food processing or in the food packaging itself, propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) serves as a heat transfer fluid in chilling and freezing applications, and as a solvent for the printing of food packaging.