Assessment of the dietary intake of propylene glycol in the Korean population

ABSTRACT

An improved method for the analysis of propylene glycol (PG) in foods using a gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector (GC-FID), with confirmation by GC-MS, was validated by measuring several analytical parameters. The PG concentrations in 1073 products available in Korean markets were determined. PG was detected in 74.1% of the samples, in a concentration range from the limit of detection (n.d., 0.39 μg ml⁻¹) to 12,819.9 mg kg⁻¹. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2011–2013 reported the mean intake levels of PG from all sources by the general population and consumers were 26.3 mg day⁻¹ (0.52 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) and 34.3 mg day⁻¹ (0.67 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹), respectively. The 95th percentile intake levels of the general population and consumers were 123.6 mg day⁻¹ (2.39 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) and 146.3 mg day⁻¹ (2.86 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹), respectively. In all groups of the general population, breads were the main contributors to the total PG intake. These reports provide a current perspective on the daily intake of PG in the Korean population.

KEYWORDS:

• Propylene glycol
• consumption
• intake
• KNHANES

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant [number 15161-MFDS-003] from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2015.