E422 — Glycerol
E422 (Glycerol), a humectant, is rated "watch": fine in moderation. A sweet, syrupy compound that keeps foods moist. Used in cake icings, soft baked goods, and confectionery. Also a normal product of fat digestion.
What is Glycerol?
A slightly sweet, syrupy compound that holds water. Used in cake icings, soft cookies, fondant, marshmallows, and as a smooth-texture component of e-cigarette liquid.
What does it do to the body?
Your body makes it constantly as part of fat metabolism. Safe at food levels. Very large doses can cause headaches or dehydration, but those amounts do not occur from normal food.
What regulators say
EFSA and the FDA both treat it as a safe additive with no numerical acceptable daily intake.
Risk rating: Watch
Mixed evidence or a specific concern (gut, allergy, or contested safety data). Not alarming, but worth keeping an eye on rather than eating without limit.