E476Emulsifier
What Is E476? Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate and Where It Is Used
Also known as: PGPR
E476 is the additive number of polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR), an emulsifier that controls how chocolate flows. It is used in milk chocolate, chocolate-coated ice cream, bars and biscuits.
- In the Besin database
- 465 products
- About 4 in every 100 products
- Source
- Plant-based
- Acceptable daily intake (ADI)
- 25 mg/kg body weight per day
What does E476 do?
It lowers the viscosity of melted chocolate so it spreads more easily into moulds and over coated products. It is usually used together with lecithin (E322).
How is it made?
Made by reacting ricinoleic acid, obtained from castor oil, with polyglycerol.
Vegan and halal: Made from castor oil and glycerol; it is usually plant-based.
Which products contain E476?
465 of the 11,663 packaged products in the Besin database list E476 (Polyglycerol polyricinoleate) in their ingredients. The categories where it appears most often:
- Milk Chocolates58 products
- Single-Serve Ice Cream57 products
- Chocolate Bars50 products
- Coated and Stick Biscuits46 products
- Mini Cakes41 products
- Wafers33 products
Numbers as of the database snapshot of October 18, 2026.
Official evaluation
EFSA re-evaluated PGPR in 2017 and, based on a two-year study, raised the ADI from the earlier 7.5 mg to 25 mg per kilogram per day. It found no concern for genotoxicity or carcinogenicity. A 2022 follow-up opinion assessed purity criteria and new uses.
Food additives are regulated by the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693). The ADI is the amount estimated to be safe to take every day over a lifetime, given per kilogram of body weight.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there E476 in chocolate?
PGPR makes melted chocolate more fluid, so it spreads thinner and more evenly into moulds and over coated products.
Are PGPR and E476 the same?
Yes. PGPR is short for polyglycerol polyricinoleate, which labels also write as E476.
Which products contain E476 most often?
In the Besin database it appears most often in milk chocolates, single-serve ice creams, chocolate bars, coated biscuits and wafers.
Related additives
Sources
- EFSA (2017): Re-evaluation of polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E476)
- the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693)
Last reviewed: . This page is for information only and is not medical advice. To report a mistake, write to iletisim@besin.app.