Glycerin is a compound that has many uses. In foods, it can help add sweetness, act as a preservative, and play other roles.
Glycerin comes from animal and vegetable fats. It’s very versatile and can be added to many products, from drinks like soda to soaps.
Learn more about glycerin and the various foods that contain it.
What Is Glycerin?
Glycerin is a type of carbohydrate called a sugar alcohol. It has many names, too. Glycerol is very common, and glycerine is also used. These compounds have the same structure, meaning they’re just different names for the same chemical.
Hundreds of products contain glycerol or glycerin, from cosmetics to cough syrups to soaps. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labels glycerin as safe for human consumption when good manufacturing processes are followed.
Glycerin is clear, colorless, and odorless according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It has a low melting point of 64 degrees F and a high boiling point of 554 degrees F. The low melting point makes it useful in drinks, because it won’t solidify as long as it’s kept in the refrigerator.
Glycerin Sweetens
As a sugar alcohol, glycerin has a sweet flavor. In comparison to table sugar, glycerin contains more calories. It has 4.32 calories per 1 gram (g) compared with sugar’s 3.87 calories per 1 g, according to the International Food Information Council. Glycerin is only about 60 to 75 percent as sweet as sugar, though.
Glycerin often appears as an ingredient in sweeteners that are sugar substitutes. Brown monk fruit, for example, has a flavor and texture similar to brown sugar, and it can contain natural flavors as well as glycerin, according to Integris Health.
Glycerol is a sugar alcohol that naturally occurs in some fruits. Sweeteners like this have fewer calories, cause fewer cavities, and cause a milder increase in blood sugar levels compared with table sugar, according to Massachusetts General Hospital. Even so, overeating sugar alcohols can lead to stomach discomfort, and more research is needed to better understand how these sugar substitutes affect health long term.
Other Uses of Glycerin in Food
Along with sweetening food, glycerin can act as a preservative and thickener, and it helps foods retain moisture. According to the International Food Information Council, this versatility makes it a good candidate for use in a wide variety of foods.
Many of these foods are sweet, such as soft candies, chewing gum, marshmallows, and cake icings. You can also find glycerin in:
- Nutrition and energy bars
- Condiments
- Diet and sugar-free foods
- Dried fruits and vegetables
- Soups
- Spices and seasonings
Glycerin also occurs naturally in some foods. These include beer, honey, vinegar, wine, and wine vinegar.
It is possible to have too much glycerin. No daily limit has been set for it, but according to the International Food Information Council, eating too much at one time can cause:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
According to a case review in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, children can become ill after drinking beverages with glycerol. The review analyzed 21 reports of children who drank sugar–free slush ice drinks containing glycerol and then had symptoms such as decreased consciousness and hypoglycemia.
The authors say kids should avoid drinking slushies that contain glycerol, and they add that these drinks offer no nutritional value.
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