E310Antioxidant
Propyl gallate
What the research shows
Not enough
published research on this page yet
A substance added to foods that contain oils and fats.
It stops oils and fats in food from spoiling through oxidation.1
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- EU permitted
What research says
Study type not stated
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Concern
Cell and DNA damage2
Propyl gallate can cause cell and DNA damage when eaten in high amounts.
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), 1996
Acceptable daily intake: up to 1.4 mg per kg of body weight.
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
United States Permitted FDA 21 CFR 184.1660
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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 · Preservatives
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 933 products on Open Food Facts that list propyl gallate.
- Super Noodles Chicken Flavour Batchelors · 90 g 7 additives
- Super Noodles, Curry Flavour Batchelors · 90 g 6 additives
- Arachides Grillées planters · 454 g 4 additives
- Stuffing Mix for Chicken Stove Top · 6 OZ (170 g) 6 additives
- peanut butter m&m's m&m's · 487.6 g 10 additives
- Original Recipe Breakfast Sausage Johnsonville · 340 g 4 additives
References
- 1Propyl gallate. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 2Esazadeh K, Ezzati Nazhad Dolatabadi J, Andishmand H, et al. Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of tert-butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole and propyl gallate as synthetic food antioxidants. Food Sci Nutr. 2024;12(10):7004-7016. doi:10.1002/fsn3.4373