What is the "propylene glycol" detected in milk?

Chu Yuhao, Engineer, Sinopec Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry

Recently, news about the detection of propylene glycol in a well-known brand of milk quickly rushed to the hot search, causing heated discussions among netizens

Strictly speaking, propylene glycol includes two isomers, 1,2-propanediol and 1,3-propanediol.

Propylene glycol is an organic compound.

Propylene glycol is widely used in industry and life

So, can propylene glycol be added to food?

For additives in food, China has issued a detailed GB2760-2014 "National Standards for Food Safety Food Additives Use Standards"

However, the national standard also stipulates that the use of propylene glycol is limited to raw and wet noodle products (noodles, dumpling wrappers, wonton wrappers, etc.

Therefore, propylene glycol, as a food additive with low toxicity and allowed by the state, is allowed to be added to some foods if the content does not exceed the standard, while the addition of propylene glycol to milk is not allowed by the national standard

So, what are the dangers of ingesting propylene glycol? Propylene glycol, as a national legal food additive, will not cause health hazard to the human body when the food that meets the standard is normally eaten

In view of the harm caused by propylene glycol to the human body, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the content of propylene glycol in food and the frequency of food intake

Therefore, eating compliant food will not cause harm to human health

"China Food News" (July 04, 2022 Edition 06)

(Editor-in-charge: Yang Xiaojing)