Propylene glycol
E490 is the European food-additive number for Propylene glycol. Propylene glycol (E490) is a food additive used as a food additive.
Is E490 safe or restricted?
E490 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as “No known concern” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E490 vegan or vegetarian?
Propylene glycol (E490) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
The production source can vary between manufacturers — the Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E490?
E490 appears in 4,155 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Cakes, Ice Cream, and Pastry.
- Cakes708
- Ice Cream136
- Pastry117
- Chocolate Candy117
- Food Coloring / Decorations102
- Candy & Sweets99
- Vanilla Extract87
- Flavored Syrups84
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E490 across the catalogue.
Counts reflect Forkin's independently enriched product catalogue and update as new products are added — they are not a market-share statistic.
Frequently asked questions about E490
- What is E490?
- E490 is the E-number for Propylene glycol. Propylene glycol (E490) is a food additive used as a food additive.
- Which foods contain E490?
- E490 appears in 4,155 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Cakes, Ice Cream, and Pastry. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E490 vegan or vegetarian?
- Propylene glycol (E490) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E490 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E490 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as ‘No known concern’ and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E490 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan and vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.