propylene glycol
Propylene glycol keeps semi-moist pet food chewy. It is prohibited in cat food by FDA regulation and scored very differently for dogs and cats.
Also appears on labels as: propylene glycol (humectant) · e1520
What it is
Propylene glycol is a humectant: it holds moisture, keeps semi-moist kibble and soft treats chewy, and doubles as a mild preservative. It is the food-grade cousin of the antifreeze compound (that one is ethylene glycol — they are not the same chemical, and the distinction matters).
Why it's in pet food
Texture. Semi-moist foods and soft treats stay soft because a humectant holds water in the matrix. It is effective and inexpensive, which is why it shows up in treats especially.
How Bowlmark scores it
Scores are deterministic math over the printed label — the rules below apply to every product identically, and nothing estimates or fills in a blank.
The engine scores this ingredient by species. In cat food, propylene glycol is a critical flag: 60 points off the additive pillar, and — like every critical flag — it also caps the product's Universal Score. In dog food it is a 12-point warning deduction, for owners who prefer to avoid it.
For dogs
Permitted for dogs at typical inclusion levels. The deduction is informational in spirit — many owners simply prefer treats without it, and the label tells you which is which.
For cats
FDA prohibits propylene glycol in cat food outright (CPG Sec. 690.200): cats exposed to it develop Heinz-body changes in their red blood cells. A cat food listing it is a serious labeling problem, not a judgment call.
Common questions
Answers come from this entry and the scoring rules above — reviewed before publish, like everything else on this page. For anything about your own pet, your vet knows best.
Is propylene glycol safe for cats?
No — FDA regulation (CPG Sec. 690.200) prohibits propylene glycol in cat food outright, because exposed cats develop Heinz-body changes in their red blood cells. A cat food listing it is a serious labeling problem, not a judgment call, and Bowlmark scores it as a critical flag: 60 points off the additive pillar plus a cap on the product's Universal Score.
Is propylene glycol safe for dogs?
It is permitted in dog food at typical inclusion levels. Bowlmark applies a 12-point warning deduction that is informational in spirit — many owners simply prefer treats without it, and the label tells you which is which.
Is propylene glycol the same as antifreeze?
No. The antifreeze compound is ethylene glycol — a different chemical — and the distinction matters. Propylene glycol is its food-grade cousin, used as a humectant to hold moisture in semi-moist foods and soft treats.
Foods that list propylene glycol
Ranked by score where scores exist. Placement here is never sold.
Sources
Related ingredients
Further reading
Cite this page
Bowlmark. "Propylene glycol in pet food — what it is and how it scores." https://www.bowlmark.com/ingredient/propylene-glycol
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