Flavor ingredient regulatory record
1,3-Propanediol
1,3-Propanediol is an alcohol in the sweet family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4753 (CAS 504-63-2). Its odor is sweet, creamy, slightly fruity, mild.
- FEMA
- 4753
- CAS
- 504-63-2
- Formula
- C3H8O2
- EC
- 207-997-3
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS. Source: FEMA Flavor Ingredient Library.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: PG, β-Propylene glycol, 1,3-Propylene glycol, Trimethylene glycol, 1,3-Dihydroxypropane, 2-Deoxyglycerol, 1,3-Propylenediol, ω-Propanediol, NSC 65426, Bio-PDO, Zemea, Susterra.
Can 1,3-Propanediol be labeled natural?
Nature makes 1,3-Propanediol, which is why the US label turns on process. A natural route gives natural flavor; synthesis gives artificial 1,3-Propanediol, same molecule. The EU and UK grant the natural claim only to that natural route; Mercosur and Mexico call synthetic material identical-to-natural.
- United States
- Natural or artificial, by process
- European Union and UK
- Natural only from natural material
- Mercosur and Mexico
- Natural or identical-to-natural
How each market defines the classes: natural vs artificial flavor under 21 CFR 101.22.
Regulatory status, with citations
United States
1,3-Propanediol is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4753. It is cited in the Code of Federal Regulations at 21 CFR 172.515.
European Union and United Kingdom
No EU FL number is on file for 1,3-Propanediol. That is not a finding either way. The Union List covers defined flavouring substances, so natural complex materials are handled as flavouring preparations under Parts B to F and never receive a number, and substances used as additives sit under Regulation 1333/2008 instead. Confirm the position before EU or UK use.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
1,3-Propanediol has not been evaluated by JECFA as a flavouring agent, or no evaluation is on file.
Other US flags
Not on the California Proposition 65 list.
TSCA Inventory status
A flavor ingredient is also an industrial chemical. 1,3-Propanediol appears on the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory under CAS 504-63-2, where EPA names it 1,3-Propanediol.
Active in US commerce
EPA designates this substance active, so no Notice of Activity Form B is required before manufacturing. What active and inactive mean.
EPA publishes no regulatory flags on this listing. What the flags mean.
From the EPA non-confidential TSCA Inventory, July 2026 release. EPA also maintains a confidential portion it does not publish. Search the Inventory by CAS number.
Odor and taste
Odor: Sweet, creamy, slightly fruity, mild.
Taste: Sweet, smooth, mild.
Where it is used
1,3-Propanediol is used in beverage, confection, dairy, bakery and cosmetics, typically as a sweet note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to 1,3-Propanediol by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glycerin | 2525 | 92% | In nature |
| Butyl alcohol | 2178 | 92% | In nature |
| Dihydroxyacetone dimer | 4033 | 91% | Not determined |
| Propyl alcohol | 2928 | 74% | In nature |
| Alanine | 3252 | 74% | In nature |
More alcohols in this index
Glycerin · 1-Amino-2-propanol · Erythritol · 2-Thienylmethanol · 1-Penten-3-ol · cis-2-Octenol
1,3-Propanediol FAQ
Does 1,3-Propanediol have FEMA GRAS status?
1,3-Propanediol holds FEMA GRAS status under FEMA number 4753. The Code of Federal Regulations lists it at 21 CFR 172.515.
How do I cite 1,3-Propanediol by FEMA or CAS number?
Cite 1,3-Propanediol as FEMA 4753 or CAS 504-63-2; both point to the same entry. Its flavor category is sweet.
What does 1,3-Propanediol smell and taste like, and where is it used?
The odor of 1,3-Propanediol is sweet, creamy, slightly fruity, mild. On the palate it is sweet, smooth, mild. Typical uses are beverage, confection, dairy, bakery and cosmetics.
Can 1,3-Propanediol be labeled a natural flavor?
The process decides for 1,3-Propanediol. It occurs in nature, so a natural-source, natural-process material is natural flavor in the US and synthetic 1,3-Propanediol is artificial. The EU and UK grant the natural claim only to that natural route; Mercosur and Mexico call synthetic material identical-to-natural.
Ingredient lookup
Check an ingredient
Start typing to search the ingredient corpus.
Or browse every ingredient page, A to Z.
Guides: What Is FEMA GRAS? · Natural vs artificial · Filing a GRAS notification
Check 1,3-Propanediol in a formula
Screened against FEMA GRAS, 21 CFR and EU rules as you build. Free to start.
Sources and attribution. The FEMA number and GRAS status on this page name a conclusion reached by the Expert Panel of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States. FDA does not list this substance by FEMA number in its Substances Added to Food inventory. Its identity is attested by EPA TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory, matched on CAS 504-63-2.
FEMA publishes its own entry for this substance in the FEMA Flavor Library, which is the authoritative record and is worth reading alongside this page.
Ambrose Compliance is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by FEMA. FEMA and FEMA GRAS are used here as identifiers for a published regulatory determination, not as marks of any relationship between FEMA and Ambrose.
About this page. Facts come from the FDA Substances Added to Food inventory, the Code of Federal Regulations, the EPA TSCA Inventory, the EU Union List, JECFA and the Ambrose database, with FEMA's published determination cited where it applies; parts of the text are written by Ambrose AI, which can make mistakes. Check the cited source before relying on anything here. This is not regulatory or legal advice.