INS 405 is the code for propylene glycol alginate
A seaweed-derived thickener that also holds foam, which is why it is used in beer, salad dressings and some drinks.
- What it does
- Thickens it A thickener
- Also printed as
- PGA
- Vegetarian?
- Vegetarian From plants
- In the Zabel score
- 2 of the 20 additive points Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 2 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 405 vegetarian?
INS 405 is from plants, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
Too few packs in our catalogue list INS 405 for a breakdown by food to mean anything yet. We print one once at least 20 categorised packs carry it.
What does the evidence say about INS 405?
We grade an additive by the evidence about it, not by whether it sounds like a chemical, and we make no claim about whether a pack complies with FSSAI rules.
JECFA sets an ADI of 70 mg/kg body weight. No concern has been identified at permitted food levels.
Does Zabel mark INS 405 down?
Yes, by 2 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0). Read the method.
Questions people search
What is INS 405?
INS 405 is the code for propylene glycol alginate, a thickener. A seaweed-derived thickener that also holds foam, which is why it is used in beer, salad dressings and some drinks.
Is INS 405 vegetarian?
INS 405 is from plants, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
What does the evidence say about INS 405?
JECFA sets an ADI of 70 mg/kg body weight. No concern has been identified at permitted food levels.
Does Zabel mark INS 405 down?
Yes, by 2 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0).
What other names is INS 405 printed under?
Packs also print it as PGA, or as the bare number 405 in brackets after the ingredient.
Sources
- 01 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
- 02 Zabel catalogue - pack counts, food categories and the codes printed alongside 4 Nov 2026
Entry updated 19 Sep 2026 · Not reviewed by a dietitian yet · Report an error on this page
Point the camera at the pack.
Zabel reads every INS code on it, shows the score, and shows the working.