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Is Propyl Gallate banned?

Yes. Propyl Gallate is banned, restricted, or carries a mandatory warning label in 1 country including Japan (banned for food use). The US FDA still permits it, which is why it shows up in everyday American food and beauty products.

Countries where Propyl Gallate is banned or restricted

Country / RegionStatus
Japan (banned for food use)Banned or restricted

Why Propyl Gallate is flagged

Animal studies have shown propyl gallate may cause liver damage at high doses. Concerns about estrogenic activity have been raised — some studies suggest propyl gallate may weakly mimic estrogen. Contact dermatitis and allergic reactions are documented in both food and cosmetic applications. Japan banned propyl gallate for food use as part of its precautionary approach to synthetic food preservatives. NTP bioassays found dose-dependent liver effects. EFSA's re-evaluation set an ADI of 0.1 mg/kg body weight — one of the lowest ADIs for food additives, reflecting toxicological concern.

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