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Source
Not animal-derived
Allergen
No
Role in food
Alcohol is used as a solvent for flavors and colors, helping to distribute them …
What it is
Alcohol used as a food ingredient is typically ethanol, the same type found in alcoholic beverages. It can be produced through the fermentation of sugars by yeast or chemically synthesized. In food, it's often used in a highly purified form.
Why it's used
Alcohol is used as a solvent for flavors and colors, helping to distribute them evenly in food products. It also acts as a preservative, inhibiting the growth of microorganisms and extending shelf life. It is frequently found in sauces, extracts, and some baked goods.
Health notes
Ethanol is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA when used as a food ingredient. At the levels typically found in food, it is not expected to cause adverse health effects. International bodies like JECFA have evaluated ethanol and established acceptable daily intake levels. However, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, which contain much higher levels of ethanol, is linked to numerous health problems.
Allergen info
Not a major allergen. Ethanol itself is not derived from any of the 9 FDA major allergens. Gluten is not present unless the ethanol was derived from wheat and not sufficiently purified.
Note:
This site presents label data from USDA FoodData Central for general information. It is not medical advice.
Check the package label; formulations change.