Wheat Germ Glycerides

Safety Information

United States (U.S.)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes wheat glutenA mixture of proteins obtained from wheat and other cereal grains; usually adhesive. on the list of ingredients Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS“GRAS” is an acronym for the phrase Generally Recognized As Safe. Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excluded from the definition of a food additive.) for direct addition to food.

Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety

The safety of wheat germThe embryonic form of a grain from which a new organism is developed. glycerides and triticum vulgare (wheat) gluten has been assessed by the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.

The Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that wheat germ glycerides and triticum vulgare (wheat) gluten were safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products. In 2001, as part of the scheduled re-evaluation of ingredients, the Expert Panel considered available new data on wheat germ glycerides and wheat gluten and reaffirmed the above conclusion.

The Expert Panel reviewed the results of laboratory tests on the safety of wheat germ glycerides, triticum vulgare (wheat) gluten, and of numerous cosmetics and personal care products containing these materials as presently used. These data supported the conclusion that wheat germ glycerides (0.25-2%) and wheat gluten (1%), in low concentrations in specific product formulations are non-sensitizing and nonirritating to human skin. Limited photopatch testing of wheat germ glycerides in lipstick bases (1-2%) was also negative.

Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations for wheat gluten
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr…

Because some people are allergic to wheat, the FDA Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act requires that all food containing wheat be clearly labeled. Information about the FDA Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidance…

European Union (EU)

Wheat germThe embryonic form of a grain from which a new organism is developed. glycerides and wheat glutenA mixture of proteins obtained from wheat and other cereal grains; usually adhesive. may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European UnionUnder the general provisions of the cosmetics regulation of the EU, ingredients appearing on the following function-specific annexes must comply with the listed restrictions and/or specifications: colorants (Annex IV), preservatives (Annex V), UV filters (Annex VI) and other ingredients with specific concentration limits and/or other restrictions (Annex III). Ingredients specifically prohibited from use in cosmetic products are listed in Annex II. Other ingredients listed in the EU cosmetic ingredient database (CosIng) may be used without restrictions..

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…

Resources

Food Ingredients and Packaging

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Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS)

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Search the Code of Federal Regulations

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EU Cosmetics Inventory

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Wheat Germ Glycerides

What Is It?

Wheat germThe embryonic form of a grain from which a new organism is developed. glycerides is a light yellow or reddish-yellow oil and triticum vulgare (wheat) glutenA mixture of proteins obtained from wheat and other cereal grains; usually adhesive. is a creamy-tan powder. In cosmetics and personal care products, wheat germ glycerides is used most commonly in the formulation of lipsticks and moisturizers. Triticum vulgare (wheat) gluten can be found in mascaras and skin care products.

Why Is It Used?

Wheat germThe embryonic form of a grain from which a new organism is developed. glycerides acts as a lubricant on the skin’s surface, which gives the skin a soft and smooth appearance. Wheat germ glycerides enhances the appearance of dry or damaged skin by reducing flaking and restoring suppleness. Triticum vulgare (wheat) glutenA mixture of proteins obtained from wheat and other cereal grains; usually adhesive. functions as a binderIngredients that hold together the ingredients of a compressed tablet or cake., or a hair or skin conditioning agent.

Scientific Facts

Wheat germThe embryonic form of a grain from which a new organism is developed. glycerides is a mixture of fatty acids derived from triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil. Triticum vulgare (wheat) glutenA mixture of proteins obtained from wheat and other cereal grains; usually adhesive. is a proteinA naturally occurring complex organic substance present in relatively high amounts in meats, fish, eggs, cheese, legumes. Made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur and phosphorus. substance which is intermixed with the starchA complex carbohydrate widely distributed among plants. It is the chief storage form of carbohydrates in plants. portion in the endosperm of the wheat, Triticum vulgare.

Wheat germ glycerides is a mixture of mono-, di-, and triglycerides produced by the transesterification of wheat germ oil. Glyceryl esters comprise a subgroup of esters which are primarily fatty acidA natural organic compound that consists of a carboxyl group (oxygen, carbon and hydrogen) attached to a chain of carbon atoms with their associated hydrogen atoms. The chain of carbon atoms may be connected with single bonds, making a ‘saturated’ fat; or it may contain some double bonds, making an ‘unsaturated’ fat. The number of carbon and hydrogen atoms in the chain is what determines the qualities of that particular fatty acid. Animal and vegetable fats are made up of various combinations of fatty acids (in sets of three) connected to a glycerol molecule, making them triglycerides. mono- and diglycerides or triglycerides modified by reaction with other alcohols. Also included are the fatty acid esters of polyglycerin, the complex dehydration product of glycerin. Like natural fats and oils, glyceryl esters are subject to hydrolysisDecomposition of a chemical compound into smaller constituents by reaction with water..

They are used in cosmetics as emollients, lubricants, vehicles and thickening agents. In addition, the monoglycerides are important emulsifiers. In cosmetics and personal care products, wheat germ glycerides functions as a skin conditioning agent – emollient and triticum vulgare (wheat) gluten functions as a skin conditioning agent – miscellaneous.

Triticum vulgare (wheat) gluten can also be used as a binder and a hair conditioning agent. Gluten is an amorphous mixture of proteins found combined with starch in the endosperm of some cereals, notably wheat, rye, and barley. It constitutes about 80% of the proteins contained in wheat, and is composed of the proteins gliadin and glutenin. Gluten is responsible for the elasticity of kneaded dough, which allows it to be leavened, as well as the “chewiness” of baked products like bagels. It is the glutenins (specifically, high molecular weight glutenins) that are especially critical to gluten quality.