Glycerol (E 422) as a food additive: impurities and specification limits
What it found
The authors say the maximum limits for four toxic elements in the food additive glycerol (E 422) should be lowered, based on the levels actually found in commercial glycerol.
They also say exposure to free 3-monochloropropanediol at the current maximum limit does not give rise to a health concern.
What they found
Toxic elements in glycerol
The maximum limits in the EU specifications for arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium should be lowered, based on the actual levels found in the commercial food additive E 422.
Acrolein limit
The Panel recommended setting a numerical limit value for acrolein in the specifications for E 422.
3-monochloropropanediol exposure
Exposure to free 3-monochloropropanediol at the maximum limit of 0.1 mg/kg set out in the specifications for E 422 does not give rise to a health concern.
Definition of E 422
The Panel recommended considering a change to the definition of E 422 in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, to say that E 422 is obtained only from vegetable oils and fats and goes through purification steps including distillation and other clean-up steps to obtain refined glycerol.
Overall conclusion
The technical data provided support an amendment of the specifications for glycerol (E 422).
What the authors conclude
“The potential exposure to free 3-monochloropropanediol at the maximum limit of 0.1 mg/kg, as laid out in the specifications for E 422, does not give rise to a health concern.”
Also in their conclusions
- They concluded that the maximum limits in the EU specifications for the four toxic elements (arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium) should be lowered based on actual levels in the commercial food additive E 422.
- They recommended setting a numerical limit value for acrolein in the specifications for E 422.
- They recommended to consider modifying the definition of E 422 in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 indicating that E 422 is obtained only from vegetable oils and fats and undergoes purification processes that involve distillation, and other clean up steps to obtain refined glycerol.
How it was done
Glycerol (E 422) was re-evaluated in 2017, and this follow-up addresses the data gaps identified then to support an amendment of the EU specifications for E 422.
The Panel performed a risk assessment of undesirable impurities present in E 422.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This paper looks at the levels of impurities in the additive and at specification limits, not at health effects in people.
- It cannot show what health effects, if any, glycerol or its impurities have when eaten.
The paper
- Title
- Follow-up of the re-evaluation of glycerol (E 422) as a food additive
- Type
- Scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), Younes M, Aquilina G, et al (2022). Follow-up of the re-evaluation of glycerol (E 422) as a food additive. EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7353Free full textPubMed 35770238DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error