E476 — Polyglycerol polyricinoleate
E476 (Polyglycerol polyricinoleate), a emulsifier, is rated "safe": no significant concern. A castor-oil-derived emulsifier used in chocolate to reduce cocoa butter content. EFSA reaffirmed safety in 2017 with no genotoxic concerns.
What is Polyglycerol polyricinoleate?
An emulsifier made from castor oil and glycerol. Used almost exclusively in chocolate, where it lets manufacturers reduce expensive cocoa butter while keeping chocolate flowing smoothly through tempering machines.
What does it do to the body?
Your gut breaks it back into ordinary fatty acids and glycerol. No genotoxic or carcinogenic effects in long-term studies. Very large doses caused mild liver enlargement in rats, but food-level intake is far below that.
What regulators say
EFSA raised the acceptable daily intake to 25 mg per kg of body weight per day in 2017. The FDA approves it for use in cocoa-based products.
Risk rating: Safe
Cleared by EFSA with no significant concern at typical dietary exposure. Common, well-studied, and not a reason to put a product back on the shelf.
Source: EFSA — re-evaluation of PGPR (2017) ↗