Ethoxylated Mono and Diglycerides

Also known as EMG, EDG, or PEG 20 mono- and diglycerides

What are Ethoxylated Mono and Diglycerides?

Ethoxylated mono and diglycerides (EMGS and EDGs) are non-ionic emulsifiers used in the baking industry to improve the volume of bread and enhance aeration during the mixing of cake batters. EMG is commonly referred to as polyglycerate 60.¹

The main difference between EMGs and EDGs lies in their molecular structure:

• Ethoxylated monoglycerides contain only one fatty acid chain, which makes them more polar.
• EDGs contain two fatty acid chains as nonpolar moieties.

Origin

Ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides are made from glycerol esters of stearic and palmitic acid.

Function

EMG and EDG are used in baked products, toppings, whiteners, non-standardized frozen desserts and icings. EMG functions as a great dough conditioner in baked goods and as an emulsifier in coffee whiteners, icings, cake batters, and frozen desserts. EMG and EDG also contribute to freeze–thaw stability and overrun in whipped toppings.^1,2

Commercial production

The reaction of  mono- and diglycerides from edible vegetable fats with ethylene oxide under pressure yield ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides.

Stoichiometry of ethoxylated monoglycerides preparation requires  combining one part of mono- and diglycerides with approximately 20 parts of ethylene oxide. The ethylene oxide reacts with the free OH- group of glycerin and with itself to form a hydrophilic chain. The end product is an oily liquid or paste.

Application

Ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides are effective emulsifiers used in the baking industry to improve rheological or handling properties of dough, loaf volume and texture of bread. They have very little crumb softening effect.

Commercial preparations of ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides contain low saponification values (65–75) and low acid values (2.0% max) indicating long fatty acid chains and few carboxylic acid moieties.²

Considerations when using ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides

• EMG is a very good dough strengthener and provides higher tolerance to over-proofing. It also helps the dough expand during the initial stages of baking (oven-spring).
• EMGs provide excellent improvement in loaf volume and dough strength, but have no effect on crumb softness or grain character. It is almost always used in combination with regular monoglycerides.
• Usually added to bread formulations at levels of 0.15 to 0.4%. Overdosing causes collapse during baking as the dough undergoes excessive expansion which causes the foam structure to collapse.
• Good for whole grain and other high absorption pan breads.
• Softness varies with fatty acid chains (e.g. aliphatic chain length, saturation/unsaturation).
• Itsnon-ionic character and intermediate polarity or HLB value make it soluble in water and partially soluble in oil.

Comparison between ethoxylated monoglycerides (EMG) and ethoxylated diglycerides (EDG)

FDA regulation

According to 21 CFR Sec. 172.834, ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides are regulated food additives (emulsifiers) that are permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption. EMG and EDG can be used in bread formulation at levels of 0.5% max (based on flour weight).

References

1. Kamel, B.S. “Emulsifiers.” Food Additive User’s Handbook, SPRINGER SCIENCE+BUSINESS MEDIA, LLC, 1991, pp. 169–201.
2. Poirier, C.A. “Emulsifiers.” Food Additives Data Book, 2nd edition, Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2011, p. 330.
3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, Part 172 — Food Additives Permitted For Direct Addition to Food For Human Consumption, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=172.834, Accessed 17 August 2020.