What is E405?
A modified alginate used as an emulsifier, stabiliser, thickener or formulation aid in permitted foods. Goodnessly rates E405 Safe, while food-category permissions and regulator conditions still apply.
A modified alginate used as an emulsifier, stabiliser, thickener or formulation aid in permitted foods. Check the food category, amount and full formulation rather than judging one ingredient in isolation.
Download our app to check additives in everyday foods · Eco score: Coming Soon
Read the FAQ →
What is Propylene glycol alginate?
A modified alginate used as an emulsifier, stabiliser, thickener or formulation aid in permitted foods. Its function depends on the formulation and the conditions attached to the permitted use.
What's it used for?
- Supporting emulsification
- Helping stabilise a formulation
- Thickening a food
- Acting as a formulation aid or flavouring adjuvant where authorised
Where you'll find E405 on the shelf
You may see E405 in packaged foods where its technical function is useful and the food category permits it.
Is E405 permitted? What the regulators say
Propylene glycol alginate is listed in the checked AU/NZ and EU frameworks with conditions, and the US source gives a specified food-use pathway. Permission is conditional: category, level, identity and specifications matter.
| Region | Status | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) | Permitted with conditions | FSANZ Schedule 15 lists propylene glycol alginate for specified categories and conditions. [FSANZ source] |
| EU European Union (EUR-Lex) | Authorised with conditions | The consolidated Union list includes E405 for specified categories and conditions of use. [EUR-Lex source] |
| US United States (FDA) | Permitted with conditions | FDA 21 CFR §172.858 permits propylene glycol alginate for specified functions and foods, with Food Chemicals Codex specifications and stated maximum levels. [FDA source] |
Goodnessly rates E405 Safe within its rating system. The rating does not remove the need to consider the product category, amount or full formulation.
- EFSA’s published re-evaluation set the E405 ADI at 55 mg/kg body weight/day.
- EFSA concluded that exposure estimates did not exceed that ADI in the population groups assessed at authorised use levels.
- The current EU Union list and the cited FDA use levels and specifications were checked.
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 E405 Safe as a practical prompt to understand the ingredient, the product and the overall formulation.
How to spot it on a label
Look for:
- Propylene glycol alginate
- 405
- E405
- Additive class (405)
Ingredient labels may use the name, the number, or the additive class followed by the number.
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What is E405?
E405 is Propylene glycol alginate, a modified alginate used as an emulsifier, stabiliser, thickener or formulation aid in permitted foods.
Is E405 permitted?
E405 is listed with conditions in Australia/New Zealand and the EU, and the FDA source gives a specified US food-use pathway.
What should I know about propylene glycol alginate?
Use depends on the food category, amount, identity and the applicable regulator conditions; a listing is not a blanket permission for every food.
How does Goodnessly rate E405?
Goodnessly rates E405 (Propylene glycol alginate) as Safe within its rating system.
Don't decode labels by hand
Scan any product with the Goodnessly app to see its full additive breakdown and understand the label at a glance.
Download our app to check additives in everyday foods · Eco score: Coming Soon