Food and Beverages that contain Anitfreeze. But it's safe, kind of...I guess?

In the United States, the FDA has determined that foods and beverages can contain up to five grams of propylene glycol per kilogram of body weight and be considered safe. Our European friends, however, have severely limited the amount to only 0.1 gram per kilogram. Obviously they are not as convinced of the preservative’s safety as is the US.

Foods and beverages with propylene glycol

Propylene glycol can be found in scores of common foods and beverages, and you will not always see it listed on the ingredient panel either. For example, if food manufacturers use an ingredient that contains propylene glycol and that ingredient was purchased pre-made from another source, they are not required to list propylene glycol because it is a sub-ingredient. One example is artificial butter flavor.

That said, here are some foods that typically contain propylene glycol and the reasons why:

• Baked goods, to absorb and retain moisture to help keep products moist longer
• Beer, to help maintain the foamy head
• Cake and cookie mixes, so the starch does not crystallize
• Flavored coffees, to help the flavors penetrate the coffee beans
• Frostings, so they remain thick once packaged
• Ice cream, so your dessert will be creamy and without ice crystals
• Margarine, to maintain creaminess and shape
  
• Salad dressings and sauces, to maintain thickness and as an emulsifier
• Snack chips, for carrying flavors
  
• Soda, where it serves to inhibit bacteria and carry flavors
• Whipped dairy/nondairy products, so your whipped cream will last and last and last…

Propylene glycol[edit]

Propylene glycol

Propylene glycol, on the other hand, is considerably less toxic than ethylene glycol and may be labeled as "non-toxic antifreeze". It is used as antifreeze where ethylene glycol would be inappropriate, such as in food-processing systems or in water pipes in homes where incidental ingestion may be possible. As confirmation of its relative non-toxicity, the FDA allows propylene glycol to be added to a large number of processed foods, including ice cream, frozen custard, salad dressings and baked goods.


Propylene glycol oxidizes when exposed to air and heat, forming lactic acid.^[8][9] If not properly inhibited, this fluid can be very corrosive,^{[citation needed]} so pH buffering agents such as dipotassium phosphate, Protodin and potassium bicarbonate are often added to propylene glycol, to prevent acidic corrosion of metal components. Pre-inhibited propylene glycol solutions like Dowfrost (manufactured by Dow Chemicals, US) and Tonofrost (manufactured by Chemtex Speciality Ltd, India) can also be used instead of pure propylene glycol to prevent corrosion.
Besides cooling system corrosion, biological fouling also occurs. Once bacterial slime starts to grow, the corrosion rate of the system increases. Maintenance of systems using glycol solution includes regular monitoring of freeze protection, pH, specific gravity, inhibitor level, color, and biological contamination. Propylene glycol should be replaced when it turns a reddish color.^[10]