Thickener · EU 1203
Polyvinyl Alcohol
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Polyvinyl Alcohol is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. The European Union separately classifies it as approved. By tracked product count it ranks #289 of 417.
- #289 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Polyvinyl Alcohol is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #289 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (29th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #289 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Polyvinyl Alcohol: the regulatory record
Polyvinyl Alcohol: composite 4/5 (Low Risk) with FDA Approved and EU Approved.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 1203 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Thickener | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 4 / 5 (Low Risk) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not in our EFSA data | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 4 | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
Polyvinyl Alcohol: what it is
Polyvinyl Alcohol is a food additive (1203) classified as thickener.
Common Uses
Catalog-profile peer axes
How Polyvinyl Alcohol compares to its catalog-profile peers nationwide
Product-count (4) and safety-score (4/5) peer columns, disjoint link sets.
Score 4/5 peers (≥50 OFF products)
Nearest other additives by PlainIngredients safety score (floored at ≥50 tracked products), distinct from the count row.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Polyvinyl Alcohol safe to consume?
Polyvinyl Alcohol scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. In the lower-concern band the federal listing is the primary signal; EU status is Approved. Moderation still applies to any additive.
What is Polyvinyl Alcohol used for in food?
Polyvinyl Alcohol is commonly used as: Sauces, soups, dairy products, baked goods. It belongs to the Thickener category of food additives.
Where does Polyvinyl Alcohol sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #289 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.