Palm Oil With Ascorbyl Palmitate And Tocopherols

Palm oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the fruit of the oil palm tree. Ascorbyl palmitate and tocopherols are added to the palm oil to act as antioxidants, helping to prevent the oil from spoiling. Ascorbyl palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C, and tocopherols are a group of compounds that include vitamin E.

This blend is used in foods primarily as a source of fat, contributing to texture and mouthfeel in products like cookies and snacks. The added ascorbyl palmitate and tocopherols help extend the shelf life of the food by protecting the fats from oxidation, which can cause rancidity.

Palm oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. It is high in saturated fat; the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend keeping saturated fat intake to less than 10% of daily calories. Ascorbyl palmitate and tocopherols are also generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA and are commonly used as antioxidants. JECFA has evaluated both ascorbyl palmitate and tocopherols and set acceptable daily intakes. There are no notable controversies regarding the safety of these specific additives at typical intake levels.