Glycerin in Food

Glycerin is used in dried fruits, such as mangos. In dried mangos, it’s listed as the third ingredient right after sugar (depending on the brand). Besides food products, beverages like Flynn’s Soda Shop Root Beer may contain glycerin too.

When added to beverages like soft drinks and sports drinks, glycerin helps create a smooth texture. According to an article from the USDA, this compound is also used as a carrier of flavors in beverages. Since it helps retain the flavor in liquids, it’s also used in products like vanilla extract and chocolate syrup.

Soft drinks like Coca-Cola and sports drinks like Gatorade are rich in sugar. These beverages might give you a temporary energy boost, but they are unhealthy in the long-term. An August 2018 research paper published in Annual Reviews has found that drinking sugary beverages may increase the risk of developing cancer by 23 to 200 percent. Therefore, stevia-sweetened beverages might be a better option.

Glycerin in food keto

Vegetable glycerine is used in products everywhere. It’s in your soap, your herbal tincture, your toothpaste, your fudge, and even your automobile.

Glycerin is safe and nontoxic, but that doesn’t mean it’s healthy to eat. It’s a sweetener that increases water retention, and may interfere with ketogenic goals.

So no, vegetable glycerine is not keto. 

If you’re eating lots of packaged goods, consider replacing them with nutrient-dense whole foods. And if you’re already avoiding processed foods, you shouldn’t spend much time worrying about vegetable glycerine.

Glycerin in food industry

Many foods and beverages use glycerin as a solvent, sweetener and/or preservative. It helps thicken foods, control moisture and stabilize emulsions of oil and water. You can find glycerin in food such as processed meats, soybean products, condensed milk, convenience foods, commercially baked goods, beverages, condiments and a range of other processed foods.

Glycerin in pet food

Why is Glycerin included in pet food?

Glycerin is added to pet food for three key reasons: 1) as a binder for canned foods and treats (to make them chewy), 2) as a preservative against mold, and 3) as a sweetener.

Common benefits or risks of Glycerin

Glycerin doesn’t provide much nutritional benefit to your pet.  Glycerin’s ‘benefits’ are related to its properties as a binder and sweetener.

Glycerin that is derived from animal and plant sources is generally considered a ‘safe’, albeit nutritionally void ingredient.

Risks: Some pet food manufacturers are using Glycerin that is derived from biofuel  (e.g. diesel fuel) processing.   This processing leads to significant amounts of residual methanol (wood alcohol) and sodium that remain in the Glycerin.  Methanol, a flammable, poisonous liquid used in making formaldehyde, is not something that you want to feed your pet.