Palm Palm Kernel Oil With TBHQ For Freshness

Palm kernel oil is a type of vegetable oil extracted from the kernel of the oil palm fruit. It is solid at room temperature and has a mild flavor. TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) is a synthetic antioxidant added to help preserve the oil and prevent it from going rancid.

Manufacturers add palm kernel oil with TBHQ to foods like cookies, cakes, and snack cakes to improve texture and shelf life. TBHQ acts as a preservative, preventing fats and oils from oxidizing and developing off-flavors.

Palm kernel oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA when used as a food ingredient. TBHQ is also FDA-approved as a food additive. Both the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have evaluated TBHQ. While TBHQ is considered safe at permitted levels, some studies have raised questions about its long-term effects at very high doses, though these are not typically encountered through normal food consumption.