Vegetable Glycerin

In foods and beverages, glycerol serves as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humectant" title="Humectant" class="mw-redirect" >humectant</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solvent" title="Solvent" >solvent</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetener" title="Sweetener" class="mw-redirect" >sweetener</a>, and may help <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_preservative" title="Food preservative" class="mw-redirect" >preserve foods</a>. It is also used as filler in commercially prepared <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-fat" title="Low-fat" class="mw-redirect" >low-fat</a> foods (e.g., <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cookie" title="Cookie" >cookies</a>), and as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thickening_agent" title="Thickening agent" >thickening agent</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liqueur" title="Liqueur" >liqueurs</a>. Glycerol and water are used to preserve certain types of leaves.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerin#cite_note-6" >[7]</a> As a<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_substitute" title="Sugar substitute" >sugar substitute</a>, it has approximately 27 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=KiloCalorie_(food)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="KiloCalorie (food) (page does not exist)" >kilocalories</a> per <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teaspoon" title="Teaspoon" >teaspoon</a> (sugar has 20) and is 60% as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetness" title="Sweetness" >sweet</a> as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucrose" title="Sucrose" >sucrose</a>. It does not feed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria" title="Bacteria" >bacteria</a> that form <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_plaque" title="Dental plaque" >plaques</a> and cause <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_cavities" title="Dental cavities" class="mw-redirect" >dental cavities</a>. As a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_additive" title="Food additive" >food additive</a>, glycerol is labeled as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_number" title="E number" >E number</a> E422.

Glycerol is also used to manufacture mono- and di-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyceride" title="Glyceride" >glycerides</a> for use as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emulsifier" title="Emulsifier" class="mw-redirect" >emulsifiers</a>, as well as polyglycerol <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ester" title="Ester" >esters</a> going into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortening" title="Shortening" >shortenings</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margarine" title="Margarine" >margarine</a>.

It is also used as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humectant" title="Humectant" class="mw-redirect" >humectant</a> (along with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_glycol" title="Propylene glycol" >propylene glycol</a> labelled as E1520 and/or E422) in the production of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snus" title="Snus" >snus</a>, a Swedish-style <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokeless_tobacco" title="Smokeless tobacco" >smokeless tobacco</a> product.

As used in foods, glycerol is categorized by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dietetic_Association" title="American Dietetic Association" class="mw-redirect" >American Dietetic Association</a> as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbohydrate" title="Carbohydrate" >carbohydrate</a>. The U.S. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_and_Drug_Administration" title="Food and Drug Administration" >Food and Drug Administration</a> (FDA) carbohydrate designation includes all caloric <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macronutrient" title="Macronutrient" class="mw-redirect" >macronutrients</a> excluding protein and fat.

Glycerol has a caloric density similar to table sugar, but a lower <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycemic_index" title="Glycemic index" >glycemic index</a> and different <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolic_pathway" title="Metabolic pathway" >metabolic pathway</a> within the body, so some dietary advocates accept glycerol as a sweetener compatible with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_carbohydrate_diet" title="Low carbohydrate diet" class="mw-redirect" >low carbohydrate diets</a>.