E405Carrier · Emulsifier · Stabiliser · Thickener
Propane-1‚2-diol alginate
What the research shows
No concerns
none of the findings here link it to harm
What research says
Studies in people
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No harm found
Digestive tolerance study2
In five men, propylene glycol alginate for 23 days caused no bad digestive or body effects.
Study type not stated
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Open question
Daily intake limits3
Propane-1,2-diol alginate breaks down in the body into propane-1,2-diol, and intake stays within safe limits.
The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.
What expert reviews concluded
Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them.
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UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 1993
Acceptable daily intake: up to 70 mg per kg of body weight.
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
United States Permitted FDA 21 CFR 172.858
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European Union Permitted EUR-Lex Reg. (EC) 1333/2008
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United Kingdom Permitted FSA retained EU law
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Canada Permitted Health Canada · Emulsifying Gelling Stabilizing Thickening Agents
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 842 products on Open Food Facts that list propane-1‚2-diol alginate.
- Perinaise Nando's · 265 g 6 additives
- PERi-PERi SAUCE Medium Nando's · 120 g 3 additives
- Fresh Garlic Caesar la maison · 1.4 L 9 additives
- Peri peri sauce Nando’s · 500 g 4 additives
- Peri Peri Sauce Hot Nando's · 500 g 4 additives
- PERI-naise PERi-PERi MAYO Mild Nando's 7 additives
References
- 1Propylene glycol alginate. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 2Anderson DM, Brydon WG, Eastwood MA, Sedgwick DM. Dietary effects of propylene glycol alginate in humans. Food Addit Contam. 1991;8(3):225-36. doi:10.1080/02652039109373973
- 3Younes M, Aggett P, Aguilar F, et al. Re-evaluation of propane-1,2-diol alginate (E 405) as a food additive. EFSA J. 2018;16(7):e05371. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5371