Palm kernel oil
Palm kernel oil is extracted from the kernel (seed) of the oil palm fruit, Elaeis guineensis, not from the fleshy fruit that gives palm oil. Kernels are pressed or solvent extracted and the oil is refined, bleached and deodorized. Like coconut oil it is a lauric oil, solid at cool room temperature. Brands buy it for confectionery coatings, fillings, non-dairy creamers and soap and cosmetic bases.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Refined, bleached and deodorized oil, the standard grade.
Fractions used for coatings and fillings with sharper melting.
Fully hydrogenated oil with a higher melting point.
RSPO-certified oil under identity-preserved, segregated or mass-balance models.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Store sealed, dry and away from heat and light; melt and mix fully before sampling. Lauric oils can develop soapy off-flavors if exposed to moisture and lipase activity, so keep containers closed. Shelf life follows the supplier specification, with retests of free fatty acids and peroxide value for aged stock.
Record fraction, melting profile and certification model for each lot. Solid fat content can vary between suppliers and fractions, so check it when changing lots in coatings.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
The Codex Standard for Named Vegetable Oils, as printed in FAO's 2001 edition of Codex Alimentarius Volume 8, defines palm kernel oil as derived from the kernel of the oil palm fruit.
Source: fao.org (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 172.861 permits a cocoa butter substitute made from edible coconut oil, palm kernel oil, or both as a food additive.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Distributor · Des Plaines, IL
Illinois supplier of bulk oils, butters, waxes and soap-making bases, owned by Columbus Vegetable Oils, selling to soap makers and small personal care brands.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include rBD palm kernel oil, palm kernel olein and stearin, hydrogenated and certified sustainable. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect free fatty acids, peroxide value, iodine value and fatty acid profile, melting point and solid fat content and 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Store sealed, dry and away from heat and light; melt and mix fully before sampling. Lauric oils can develop soapy off-flavors if exposed to moisture and lipase activity, so keep containers closed. Shelf life follows the supplier specification, with retests of free fatty acids and peroxide value for aged stock.
The Codex Standard for Named Vegetable Oils, as printed in FAO's 2001 edition of Codex Alimentarius Volume 8, defines palm kernel oil as derived from the kernel of the oil palm fruit. 21 CFR 172.861 permits a cocoa butter substitute made from edible coconut oil, palm kernel oil, or both as a food additive.
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