Build my profileBuild my profile

Emulsifier

E477 (propylene glycol esters): what it is, its sources, vegan or not

E477 can come from plant oils or animal fat, and the pack rarely says which. Vegetarian and vegan profiles get Heads up: source not stated.

By Bravoora teamUpdated Sources checked 4 sourcesHow we check

Heads up

for a vegan profile

E477=source not stated

What is E477?

E477 (propylene glycol esters) is an emulsifier, an additive that keeps oil and water mixed in a food.

What is E477 made from?

E477 can come from plant oils or animal fat. The source is not stated on the pack: a label does not have to say which of these was used.

  • Plant oils
  • Animal fat

Is E477 vegan?

Heads up. Source not stated. E477 can come from plant oils or animal fat. The pack does not have to say which, so the app says Heads up instead of guessing.

What the app says to each profile, and the reason it shows.

VeganHeads upSource not stated. E477 can come from plant oils or animal fat. The pack does not have to say which, so the app says Heads up instead of guessing.
VegetarianHeads upSource not stated. E477 can come from plant oils or animal fat. One of those is meat, fish or a slaughter by-product, and the pack does not have to say which.

What other names does E477 have on a label?

On a label, E477 can also appear as “INS 477”, “Emulsifier (477)”, “Emulsifier (E477)”, “Propane-1,2-diol esters of fatty acids” or “Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids”.

Any of these on a pack means E477. The checker reads them all.

E477E 477E-477INS 477Emulsifier (477)Emulsifier (E477)Propane-1,2-diol esters of fatty acidsPropylene glycol esters of fatty acids

What would change the answer for E477?

For E477, a stated source changes the answer. A pack that says “from plant oils” gives Fits you; one that says “from animal fat” gives Not for you. A list that is cut off or unreadable gets Needs one more scan.

Sources: EU, US and Codex additive rules

Where additives are listed and approved. Bravoora reads the source and the diet; it does not rate the hazard.

  1. EU Regulation 1333/2008 on food additives (the E-number list)
  2. EU Regulation 1169/2011, Annex II: the allergen sources a label must name
  3. US FDA: Food Additive Status List
  4. FAO/WHO Codex: General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) online

Names and classes cross-checked with Open Food Facts (Open Database License).

Create a website profile with the things you avoid and the people you check for.

Build my profile

Save and edit your profile on this website. App transfer is not available yet.