Palm Oil Or Modified Palm Oil

Palm oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the fruit of the oil palm tree, primarily the African oil palm. Modified palm oil refers to palm oil that has undergone processing, such as fractionation or interesterification, to alter its physical properties like melting point or texture for specific food applications.

Manufacturers use palm oil and modified palm oil in a wide range of packaged foods due to their semi-solid consistency at room temperature, which provides texture and stability. They are commonly found in baked goods like cookies and biscuits, snack foods, spreads, and frying oils, contributing to product shelf life and mouthfeel.

Palm oil is a food ingredient generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. It is high in saturated fat, and the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2025-2030) recommend limiting saturated fat intake to less than 10% of daily calories. Consuming excessive amounts of saturated fat can contribute to increased levels of LDL cholesterol. JECFA has evaluated palm oil as a food ingredient.