# Propylene glycol alginate

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propylene-glycol-alginate/520622>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [December 9, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propylene-glycol-alginate/520622 "2009-12-09T20:12:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Powers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Powers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propylene-glycol-alginate/520622/1 "2009-12-09T20:12:08Z")

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> **[What is the “propylene glycol alginate” found in salad dressings?](https://www.straightdope.com/21341371/what-is-the-propylene-glycol-alginate-found-in-salad-dressings)**

[QUOTE=Gary K.]  
“It sounds suspiciously similar to a famous antifreeze.”  
[/QUOTE]

What’s suspicious about it? Sodium chloride is an antifreezing agent, too, but we need that just to live.

(And of course, propylene glycol has a [number of other uses](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_glycol#Applications).)  
Powers &8^]

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**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propylene-glycol-alginate/520622/2 "2009-12-09T20:47:45Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Originally Posted by Gary K.  
> “It sounds suspiciously similar to a famous antifreeze.”

Actually, it is anti-freeze, but unlike **ethylene glycol** which is highly toxic, **propylene glycol** is fairly non-toxic in the amounts you find in most foods. A mixture of 60% propylene glycol and 40% water can protect against freezing down to -60 degrees F.

Here’s an article on proylene glycol’s toxicity: [Propylene glycol (PIM 443)](http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pim443.htm#SectionTitle:7.2%20%20Toxicity)

I would personally avoid the proylene glycol bong at Frat parties.

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**Author:** ![Frederic\_Kahler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@Frederic\_Kahler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frederic_Kahler)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propylene-glycol-alginate/520622/3 "2009-12-10T04:55:57Z")

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**The nuclear menu ending was most charming.**

Have already read a half-dozen pages & added this place as a favorite.

A newbie,  
**Frederic Kahler**  
Apalachicola, FL 32320