Palm And Canola Oils With TBHQ

Palm oil and canola oil are vegetable oils. Palm oil is extracted from the fruit of the oil palm tree, and canola oil is made from the seeds of the canola plant. TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) is a synthetic antioxidant added to these oils.

These oils are used to provide texture, flavor, and as a cooking medium in many processed foods, such as cookies and biscuits. TBHQ is added to the oils to prevent them from spoiling, which means it helps keep them fresh by slowing down the process of rancidity.

Palm oil and canola oil are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting saturated fat intake, and palm oil contains saturated fat. TBHQ is an FDA-approved food additive. JECFA has evaluated TBHQ and set an acceptable daily intake. While some studies have raised questions about high doses in animals, major regulatory bodies like the FDA and JECFA consider it safe for human consumption at the approved levels found in food.