Palm oil has been an essential ingredient in much of the traditional West African cuisine for thousands of years, as well as in Southeast Asia and part of Brazil.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates palm oil under general food labeling laws, rather than a specific rule just for palm oil. Here’s a summary of FDA labeling requirements as they apply to palm oil:
1. Ingredient Declaration
Palm oil must be declared by name in the ingredient list.
Acceptable names:
“Palm oil”
“Palm kernel oil” (if applicable)
“Hydrogenated palm oil” (if it has been hydrogenated)
2. Allergen Labeling
Palm oil is not a major allergen according to FDA definitions (like milk, eggs, peanuts).
No special allergen warning is required unless processed in a facility with allergens.
3. Nutritional Labeling
Palm oil is high in saturated fat and will be reflected in the Nutrition Facts panel:
Total fat
Saturated fat
Calories from fat
If the palm oil is partially hydrogenated, it may contain trans fats, which must be declared (though these are mostly phased out in U.S. food).
4. Country of Origin (If Imported)
Palm oil imported into the U.S. must comply with country of origin labeling for traceability and customs compliance.
Not always required on consumer labels, but important for manufacturers.
5. GRAS Status
Palm oil is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use in food.
6. Labeling Claims
If a company wants to make specific claims:
“Non-GMO”
“Organic” (must meet USDA organic standards)
“Sustainably sourced” (must be substantiated; often tied to RSPO certification)
These are voluntary but must be truthful and not misleading.
7. Mislabeling or Hidden Terms
Manufacturers cannot hide palm oil under generic terms like:
“Vegetable oil” (unless a mix, and even then palm oil should be disclosed if it’s a significant part)
“Shortening” (unless labeled properly in parentheses)
Palm oil is often judged solely on the basis of its saturated fatty acid content, while its numerous health benefits are overlooked.
Crude palm oil and crude palm kernel oil are high in saturated fatty acids, about 50% and 80%, respectively.
Palm oil is the largest natural source of tocotrienol, part of the vitamin E family. Palm oil is also high in vitamin K and dietary magnesium.
Although retailers are under no legal obligation to source sustainable palm oil, many have made voluntary commitments to do so as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy.
| English and latin names for palm oil | Likely to be palm oil |
|---|---|
| Palm oil kernel | Vegetable oil (if the product contains saturated fats, it’s most likely palm oil) |
| Palmitate / palmate | Ingredient lists containing “stearate, stearyl” |
| Elaeis gunieensis | Ingredient lists containing the words “cetyl, cetearyl” |
| Hydrated palm gylcerides hexadecanoic | Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), sodium laureth sulphate, sodium dodecyl sulphate, (SDS or NaDS) sodium |
| Palmitic acid | Calcium stearoyl lactylate steareth -2, steareth -20 emulsifier 422, 430-36, 465-67, 470-8, 481-483 |
Your food manufacturing plant, import-export company and warehouses, must have or obtain an FDA Registration Number.
How do you get an FDA REGISTRATION NUMBER?
● Contact ITB HOLDINGS LLC
● Provide full company name, complete physical address
● Indicate name, telephone and email of your company’s CEO or Manager
● Tell us what you are exporting or importing
● Submit your company’s DUNS Number
Same requirements apply to the foreign manufacturer and exporter.
The U.S. importer must be registered and should have the FDA Registration Number of the manufacturer and the exporter, to file a Prior Notice.
Any other FDA Compliance issues?
● Nutrition Facts Label
● Supplement Facts Label
● Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)
REGISTRATION
SERVICE FEE
$180.00
The FDA will not confirm a registration, provide a new registration number, or a registration renewal until it verifies the accuracy of your facility’s unique facility identifier (UFI) and that the facility-specific address associated with the UFI is the same address associated with your registration.
FDA recognizes the Data Universal Numbering System, D-U-N-S (DUNS) number, as an acceptable UFI. Keep in mind that obtaining a DUNS Number is free, but takes 30 days, unless you pay a fee to Dun & Bradstreet Inc.
