Ingredient

Sodium Glycolate

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Source
Not animal-derived
Allergen
No
Role in food
Sodium glycolate is primarily used as a humectant, meaning it helps retain moisture in …

What it is

Sodium glycolate is the sodium salt of glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is a naturally occurring organic acid found in some fruits and plants, but it is typically produced industrially for commercial use. It is often synthesized from chemicals like formaldehyde or ethylene glycol.

Why it's used

Sodium glycolate is primarily used as a humectant, meaning it helps retain moisture in foods. This function helps to keep baked goods like cakes, cupcakes, and snack cakes from drying out, improving their texture and shelf life. It can also act as a pH adjuster.

Health notes

Sodium glycolate is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in food. Regulatory bodies like the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have evaluated similar compounds, but specific evaluations for sodium glycolate's safety at typical food intake levels are not widely publicized. At the levels used in food, it is not expected to cause adverse health effects.

Allergen info

Sodium glycolate is not derived from or one of the FDA's nine major food allergens. It does not contain gluten.

Products containing Sodium Glycolate

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Colony Brands, Inc. Cake Bites, Red Velvet Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes 458kcal 4.2Protein 25Fat 50Carbs Colony Brands, Inc. Cake Bites, Double Chocolate, Red Velvet, Vanilla Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes 458kcal 4.2Protein 25Fat 62.5Carbs Cake Bites, Chocolate, Carrot, Pumpkin Colony Brands, Inc. Cake Bites, Chocolate, Carrot, Pumpkin Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes 435kcal 0Protein 26.1Fat 52.2Carbs Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Petit Fours Handcrafted Gourmet Layer Cakes, Chocolate & Vanilla Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes High in saturated fat — 65% DV per serving 480kcal 2.7Protein 25.3Fat 61.3Carbs Colony Brands, Inc. Carrot Pumpkin Chocolate Cake Bites, Carrot Pumpkin Chocolate Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes 435kcal 4.3Protein 26.1Fat 52.2Carbs Colony Brands, Inc. Chocolate Vanilla Red Velvet Cake Bites, Chocolate Vanilla Red Velvet Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes 455kcal 0Protein 22.7Fat 59.1Carbs Colony Brands, Inc. Pumpkin, Chocolate, Carrot Harvest Cake Bites, Pumpkin, Chocolate, Carrot Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes High in added sugars — 22% DV per serving 458kcal 0Protein 25Fat 54.2Carbs Pumpkin Cake Bites With Cream Cheese Filling, Pumpkin Colony Brands, Inc. Pumpkin Cake Bites With Cream Cheese Filling, Pumpkin Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes High in added sugars — 20% DV per serving 458kcal 4.2Protein 25Fat 54.2Carbs Colony Brands, Inc. Harvest Cake Bites, Pumpkin, Chocolate, Carrot Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes High in added sugars — 20% DV per serving 435kcal 0Protein 26.1Fat 56.5Carbs
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Last updated: September 28, 2026

Note: This site presents label data from USDA FoodData Central for general information. It is not medical advice. Check the package label; formulations change.