21 CFR § 173.55 - Polyvinylpyrrolidone.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t21/s173.55"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "21 CFR § 173.55 - Polyvinylpyrrolidone."
title_number: 21
title_name: "Food and Drugs"
section_number: "173.55"
section_name: "Polyvinylpyrrolidone."
chapter_name: "FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION"
part_number: "173"
part_name: "SECONDARY DIRECT FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED IN FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "21 U.S.C. 321, 342, 348."
regulatory_source: "42 FR 14526, Mar. 15, 1977, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "173"
---


# 173.55 Polyvinylpyrrolidone.

The food additive polyvinylpyrroli-done may be safely used in accordance with the following prescribed conditions:

(a) The additive is a polymer of purified vinylpyrrolidone catalytically produced, having an average molecular weight of 40,000 and a maximum unsaturation of 1 percent, calculated as the monomer, except that the polyvinylpyrrolidone used in beer is that having an average molecular weight of 360,000 and a maximum unsaturation of 1 percent, calculated as the monomer.

(b) The additive is used or intended for use in foods as follows:

| Food | Limitations |
| --- | --- |
| Beer | As a clarifying agent, at a residual level not to exceed 10 parts per million. |
| Flavor concentrates in tablet form | As a tableting adjuvent in an amount not to exceed good manufacturing practice. |
| Nonnutritive sweeteners in concentrated liquid form | As a stabilizer, bodying agent, and dispersant, in an amount not to exceed good manufacturing practice. |
| Nonnutritive sweeteners in tablet form | As a tableting adjuvant in an amount not to exceed good manufacturing practice. |
| Vitamin and mineral concentrates in liquid form | As a stabilizer, bodying agent, and dispersant, in an amount not to exceed good manufacturing practice. |
| Vitamin and mineral concentrates in tablet form | As a tableting adjuvant in an amount not to exceed good manufacturing practice. |
| Vinegar | As a clarifying agent, at a residual level not to exceed 40 parts per million. |
| Wine | As a clarifying agent, at a residual level not to exceed 60 parts per million. |