What is E1521?
Polyethylene glycol 8000 (E1521) is a high-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol used for specified technical functions in permitted food and processing applications. Goodnessly rates E1521 Safe, while food-category permissions and regulator conditions still apply.
A high-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol used for specified technical functions in permitted food and processing applications. Check the food category, amount and full formulation rather than judging one ingredient in isolation.
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What is Polyethylene glycol 8000?
Polyethylene glycol 8000 is a high-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol used for specified technical functions in permitted food and processing applications. Its function depends on the formulation and the conditions attached to the permitted use.
What's it used for?
- Supporting a specified technical function in a formulation
- Acting as a carrier or processing aid where the rules allow it
- Helping deliver a consistent manufacturing result
- Working only within the identity and use conditions that apply
Where you'll find E1521 on the shelf
You may see E1521 in packaged foods where its technical function is useful and the food category permits it.
Is E1521 permitted? What the regulators say
Polyethylene glycol 8000 is listed or permitted in the checked AU/NZ, EU and US frameworks with conditions. Permission is conditional: category, level, identity and specifications matter.
| Region | Status | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) | Permitted with conditions | FSANZ’s Food Standards Code provides the framework for permitted additives and their conditions; the exact food category and function must be checked in the current Code. [FSANZ source] |
| EU European Union (EUR-Lex) | Authorised with conditions | The consolidated Union list includes the additive for specified categories and conditions. [EUR-Lex source] |
| US United States (FDA) | Permitted with conditions | FDA’s food-substance records and specified 21 CFR provisions provide pathways for polyethylene glycol uses, including the conditions in those sections. [FDA source] |
Goodnessly rates E1521 Safe within its rating system. The rating does not remove the need to consider the product category, amount or full formulation.
- The current sources checked for this draft do not state a new numerical ADI for this specific additive. This page does not infer one.
- Permissions depend on the particular polyethylene glycol identity, specifications, food category and use conditions.
- Regulatory permissions can change; confirm the primary source when a product or use is unusual.
This section is checked periodically rather than continuously — confirm the current primary source before relying on a regulatory detail.
Who might want to limit or avoid it
- People comparing additive functions across products
- People checking the frequency of this ingredient in their usual foods
- People who want to consider the whole formulation and serving pattern
Goodnessly rates E1521 Safe as a practical prompt to understand the ingredient, the product and the overall formulation.
How to spot it on a label
Look for:
- Polyethylene glycol 8000
- 1521
- E1521
- Additive class (1521)
Ingredient labels may use the name, the number, or the additive class followed by the number.
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What is E1521?
E1521 is Polyethylene glycol 8000, a high-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol used for specified technical functions in permitted food and processing applications.
Is E1521 permitted?
E1521 is listed or permitted with conditions in Australia/New Zealand, the EU and the US sources checked for this draft.
What should I know about Polyethylene glycol 8000?
No numerical ADI for this specific additive was stated in the current primary sources checked for this draft.
How does Goodnessly rate E1521?
Goodnessly rates E1521 (Polyethylene glycol 8000) as Safe within its rating system.
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