Label Able: Vegetable Glycerin

I was going on a trip and picked up some Kashi TLC Trail Mix bars. I trust their products completely so don't feel it's necessary to read labels before buying them. While in the car, I happened to check out the list of ingredients and saw vegetable glycerin.

If you're curious to know what it is or why it's used keep reading.

Glycerin is a clear, colorless, odorless, syrup-like liquid used in many pharmaceuticals, but when used in foods, it acts as a sweetener since it's 60 percent as sweet as sucrose, aka table sugar. It doesn't raise blood sugar levels or lead to cavities, so it makes a great alternative to white sugar. Some types of glycerin can be made from animal fats, which is why companies specify that they use vegetable glycerin, usually made from palm or coconut oil. This ingredient may also help preserve foods.

Well that's good to know. Although it's not as nutritious as broccoli, at least it's not bad for me. Have any of you seen other products with vegetable glycerin? If so tell me about them in the comment section below.