Foods Containing E422 (Glycerol)
E422 (Glycerol) is a sweet-tasting liquid that keeps food moist — usually plant-derived, but can come from animal fat. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E422
E422 is used across cakes, sweets, dried fruit, chewing gum and soft baked goods. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Cake icing and fondant
- Sweets
- Energy gels
- Liqueurs
- E-liquids and medicines
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E422 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E422" or as "Glycerol".
How to spot E422 on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "humectants: E422" or "humectants: glycerol". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Glycerol" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E422?
E422 is considered safe. It is authorised across the EU, UK and US, and safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have not identified health concerns at the levels used in food. For most people there is no reason to avoid E422.
Full guide to E422: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).