Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil

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Overview

What Is It?

Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Elaies Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil and Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil are oils obtained from the palm tree, Elaeis guineensis. In cosmetics and personal care products, these Palm Oil ingredients are used in the formulation of skin care products, makeup and suntan products.

Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?

Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Elaies Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil and Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil are primarily used as skin conditioning agents - occlusive. The Hydrogenated Palm Oil ingredients may also be used as viscosity increasing agents - nonaqueos.

Scientific Facts:

Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Elaies Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil and Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil are obtained from the Elaeis guineensis tree. Crude Palm Oil is one of the richest natural sources of beta carotene, which gives crude Palm Oil a deep red color. During the refining process, beta carotenes are completely removed from Palm Oil. The major end use for Palm Oil is for the manufacture of cooking fats and margarine.

Safety

Safety Information:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes a "cocoa butter substitute primarily from palm oil", on its list of substances considered Generally Recognized As Safe for use as a direct food additive (GRAS). Palm oil is also permited to be directly added to food, and it is on the list of indirect food additives allowed to be used in paper and paperboard that comes into contact with food. The safety of Palm Oil and related ingredients has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Elaeis Guineensis(Palm) Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil and Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil were safe as used in cosmetics and personal care products.

More safety Information:

CIR Safety Review: The CIR Expert Panel reviewed skin irritation, sensitization, photosensitization, and phototoxicity data on Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil and Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil and determined that these endpoints should not be of concern. In a laboratory study, very large oral doses of Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil over a long period of time resulted in enlarged livers. The weight of evidence of all the mutagenicity studies indicated that Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil was not a mutagen. The CIR Expert Panel noted that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been detected in some grades of Palm Oil. Therefore, the CIR Expert Panel recommended that concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons be kept at a level that does not produce adverse effects.

FDA: Link to Code of Federal Regulations for Palm Oil

Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Elaies Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil and Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

More scientific Information:

Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil is an edible vegetable oil. It is one of the few vegetable oils relatively high in saturated fats so that it is semi-solid at room temperature. In cosmetics and personal care products, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Elaies Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil and Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil function as a skin conditioning agents - occlusive.

Resources

Resources:

Find out more about the regulation of Food Additives by the Food and Drug Administration

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Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil

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