Propylene glycol levels in Korean foods and daily intake
What it found
Propylene glycol was found in 74.1% of 1073 food products sold in Korea.
Average daily intake for the general population was 26.3 mg, with bread as the main source.
What they found
Studies in people
Average daily intake
Survey data showed the general population took in an average of 26.3 mg per day, or 0.52 mg kg(-1) day(-1). People who consumed it took in 34.3 mg per day on average.
Higher intake levels
At the 95th percentile, the general population took in 123.6 mg per day. Consumers at that level took in 146.3 mg per day.
Bread was top source
Across all groups in the general population, bread contributed the most to total propylene glycol intake.
Other findings
Testing method checked
The researchers validated a lab method using gas detectors to measure propylene glycol in food. They confirmed results with a second type of detector.
Found in most foods
Propylene glycol was detected in 74.1% of the 1073 products tested. Amounts ranged from the lowest detectable level of 0.39 μg ml(-1) up to 12,819.9 mg kg(-1).
What the authors conclude
- They say these findings give an up-to-date picture of how much propylene glycol the Korean population takes in daily from food.
How it was done
The authors wanted to measure how much propylene glycol people in Korea take in from their food each day.
They tested 1073 food products from Korean markets using a gas-based lab method. They then used national diet survey data from 2011 to 2013 to estimate daily intake by the general population and by consumers.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work only measured amounts in food and estimated intake from surveys. It did not look at any health effects in people.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Korea
The paper
- Title
- Assessment of the dietary intake of propylene glycol in the Korean population
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Lim HS, Hwang JY, Choi E, Lee GY, Yun SS, Kang T (2016). Assessment of the dietary intake of propylene glycol in the Korean population. Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment. doi:10.1080/19440049.2016.1209576PubMed 27389111DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error