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Ingredient explainer · 01 of 04

What is USP vegetable glycerin?

Naked Shots is roughly 85 to 90 percent vegetable glycerin by volume. It's the base that carries the flavor, keeps the bottle shelf-stable, and gives one pump the mouthfeel of a real syrup without the sugar. Here's the honest version of what it is and how it fits into low-carb eating.

What it is

Vegetable glycerin (chemically: glycerol, sometimes labeled E422 in the EU) is a clear, odorless, mildly sweet liquid derived from vegetable oils. It's a sugar alcohol, which means the body metabolizes it differently than sugar or starch. In food it acts as a solvent, humectant, sweetener, and thickener.

“USP food-grade” means the glycerin meets the purity standard set by the United States Pharmacopeia for pharmaceutical and food use. This is the same grade used by flavor houses and pharma. It's stricter than “technical” or “cosmetic” grade.

Why it's in Naked Shots

Carries the flavor. Natural flavor concentrates are oil-soluble; glycerin lets them disperse cleanly in water without an emulsifier.
Zero sugar. Glycerin isn't sugar. There's no cane sugar, no sucralose, no monk fruit, no stevia. If you want sweetness, add your own.
Shelf stability. Glycerin is hygroscopic and lowers water activity, which makes the bottle inhospitable to spoilage organisms.
Body. Straight water carrying flavor tastes thin. Glycerin gives one pump the mouthfeel of a real syrup.

Keto and low-carb math

On labels, the FDA requires glycerin to be counted toward total carbohydrates. In practice, most keto and low-carb communities count it as 0g net carbs because it doesn't spike blood sugar the way sucrose or glucose does. This is the same treatment applied to erythritol, allulose, and other sugar alcohols.

One shot of Naked Shots contains about half a gram of glycerin. Even if you count it fully, it's a rounding error. If you're managing diabetes or on a strict medical diet, ask your doctor how it fits.

Safety

Vegetable glycerin is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. It's been in the food supply for decades and appears in everything from toothpaste and cough syrup to baked goods and vape juice.

Sources

Common questions.

Is vegetable glycerin keto?: Most carb counters and the keto community count vegetable glycerin as non-impact and label it 0g net carbs, because it's metabolized differently than sugar (it's a sugar alcohol, not a sugar). The FDA still requires it to be counted toward total carbohydrates on labels, which is why some products show it as ~4g total carbs but 0g net carbs. Naked Shots contains no added sugar and no sucralose.
Does glycerin raise blood sugar?: Glycerin's glycemic impact is generally considered minimal compared to sugar, but it's not zero and it's not universally settled. If you're managing diabetes or on a strict medical diet, ask your doctor or dietitian how it fits.
What does 'USP food-grade' mean?: USP is the United States Pharmacopeia standard. USP food-grade glycerin meets purity criteria set for pharmaceutical and food use, which is stricter than 'technical' or 'cosmetic' grade. It's the same grade used by flavor houses and pharma manufacturers.
Is vegetable glycerin the same as propylene glycol?: No. Vegetable glycerin (glycerol) is a plant-derived sugar alcohol. Propylene glycol is a different molecule, a synthetic diol used as a solvent and carrier in food and pharma. They're often confused because both are used as flavor carriers. Naked Shots uses vegetable glycerin as the primary base; a trace of propylene glycol arrives with the natural flavor concentrate and we list it on the label instead of burying it inside 'natural flavor.'
Where does it come from?: Ours is derived from vegetable oils (typically soy, coconut, or palm). It's a byproduct of oil processing and biodiesel production. It's classified as vegan.

The rest of the label

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Three flavors. 16oz pump bottle. Reservations open.