Polyethylene glycol (E 1521) intake from food supplements
What it found
The highest estimated daily intake of polyethylene glycol from food supplements was 3.5 mg per kg body weight in children and 6.1 mg per kg body weight at the high level in the elderly.
The authors say these estimates very likely overestimate real intake.
What they found
Intake estimates
Using the maximum level, mean intake ranged from 0.1 to 3.6 mg per kg body weight per day, and the high level ranged from 0.6 to 6.2 mg per kg body weight per day. Using the highest reported use level, mean intake ranged from 0.1 to 3.5 mg per kg body weight per day, and the high level ranged from 0.6 to 6.1 mg per kg body weight per day.
How many products use it
The Mintel database showed polyethylene glycol (E 1521) on 264 products, mainly vitamins and dietary supplements, with 201 published between January 2013 and March 2018. The average share of products labelled with it was 0.04%, and the highest share in any subcategory was 2.3%.
Overestimation of intake
The authors assumed that all food supplements contained polyethylene glycol (E 1521), but the database showed it was used in only a small percentage. They concluded that the intake estimates very likely overestimate real intake.
Comparison with earlier limits
The highest calculated intake estimate falls within the range of the group acceptable daily intake previously set by SCF (5 mg per kg body weight per day for PEG 300-4000) and by JECFA (10 mg per kg body weight per day for PEG 200-10000).
Other sources not counted
Polyethylene glycols are also used in cosmetics and veterinary drugs, but intake from these routes was not available and could not be included. Use in medicines for chronic constipation was estimated at 0.55 g per kg body weight per day in children aged 2 to 6 years and up to 1.37 g per kg body weight per day in infants.
What the authors conclude
“Taking uncertainties into account, the Panel concluded that these exposure estimates very likely overestimate the real exposure to polyethylene glycol (E 1521) from its use as a food additive according to Annex II.”
Also in their conclusions
- They concluded that the refined exposure estimates very likely overestimate the real exposure to polyethylene glycol (E 1521) from its use as a food additive according to Annex II.
- They noted that the highest calculated exposure estimate falls within the range of the group ADI previously established by SCF (5 mg/kg bw per day for PEG 300-4000) and of the one set by JECFA (10 mg/kg bw per day for PEG 200-10000).
- They also noted that if actual practice changes, these refined estimates may no longer be representative and should be updated.
How it was done
The European Commission asked EFSA to carry out a refined intake assessment of polyethylene glycol (E 1521) as part of the re-evaluation programme for food additives already on the market before 2009.
The authors combined food supplement consumption data from 13 dietary surveys in 8 European countries with use levels reported by industry and the maximum level set in the rules. They estimated daily intake for children, adolescents, adults and the elderly who take food supplements.
What it can’t tell you
- This assessment only looked at intake from food supplements. It did not measure any health effects in people.
- Intake from table-top sweeteners, cosmetics, veterinary drugs and carry-over uses was not included, so total intake from all sources is not known.
- The estimates are based on reported use levels from industry. If actual use changes, the estimates may no longer apply.
The paper
- Title
- Refined exposure assessment of polyethylene glycol (E 1521) from its use as a food additive
- Type
- Scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY-ND. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (EFSA ANS Panel), Younes M, Aggett P, et al (2018). Refined exposure assessment of polyethylene glycol (E 1521) from its use as a food additive. EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5293Free full textPubMed 32625932DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error