E1521Polyethylene glycol

E1521 is polyethylene glycol. In Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT it is listed with the functions: antifoaming agent, carrier, emulsifier, glazing agent, thickener.

Code: E1521 · INS 1521
Group: Antifoaming agent, Carrier, Emulsifier, Glazing agent, Thickener

In Vietnam✓ PermittedOn the list of permitted additives — Circular 24/2019, Appendix 1

Risk level on the Yenzo Scalelow?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy

How E1521 appears on labels

IngredientsIllustrative example

Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, antifoaming agent (1521), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).

antifoaming agent (1521)antifoaming agent 1521E1521INS 1521On Vietnamese labels: Polyethylen glycol

Polyethylene glycol in food

Surface-treated fresh fruit

Chewing gum

Sweeteners

Vitamin and mineral supplements

Flavoured drinks

Questions about polyethylene glycol

What is E1521 (polyethylene glycol)?

Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT (Appendix 1) lists INS 1521 with the functions: antifoaming agent, carrier, emulsifier, glazing agent, thickener.

Is polyethylene glycol harmful?

In 2018 EFSA refined the exposure assessment for polyethylene glycol (E 1521). For food supplement consumers the highest mean estimate was 3.5 mg/kg body weight a day (children 3–9 years) and the highest 95th percentile 6.1 (the elderly); this highest figure falls within the range of the group ADIs previously set by SCF (5 mg/kg body weight a day for PEG 300–4000) and JECFA (10 mg/kg body weight a day for PEG 200–10000). EFSA considered that these estimates very likely overestimate real exposure.

Is E1521 permitted in Vietnam?

Yes. Polyethylene glycol (INS 1521) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food.

Other antifoaming agents

E471Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acidsvery low E551Silicon dioxidelow E900Dimethyl polysiloxanelow E905Microcrystalline waxlow

See all antifoaming agents →

Updated 22 October 2026

How Yenzo scores

Sources (3)

Open Food Facts additives taxonomy (Yenzo's table cites no EFSA opinion for this code). Open Food Facts additives taxonomy, https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/blob/main/taxonomies/additives.txt (entry en:e1521)
Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 2A
Refined exposure assessment of polyethylene glycol (E 1521) from its use as a food additive. EFSA Journal 2018;16(6):5293

Information only, not medical advice. The risk level is the additive's class in Yenzo's open scoring method, based on the cited source.