Palm kernel oil

What the evidence says

• High in saturated fatStrong evidence

  About half saturated fat; WHO recommends keeping saturated fat to 10% of energy or less. [1]

• Process contaminantStrong evidence

  Refined palm oils had the highest levels of glycidyl esters among vegetable oils in EFSA's 2016 assessment; the EU sets maximum levels for them. [2][3]

• Palm oil (personal preference)Preference

  Some people avoid palm oil because of deforestation linked to its production.

Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.

Popular products that list palm kernel oil

424 of the 17,000 most-scanned products in the US with a GoodSwap page list palm kernel oil. The 12 most scanned:

• Yoggies Natures Garden Probiotic Strawberry Yoggies · (20 g) 0.7 oz Score 47 out of 100 Okay
• Nut Bars with Cocoa Drizzle & Sea Salt Kirkland Signature · 30 × 1.41 oz (40 g) bars / 42.3 oz (1.2 kg) Score 12 out of 100 Bad
• Protein Peanut butter Dark Chocolate chewy bar Nature Valley Protein · 40 g Score 9 out of 100 Bad
• Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Kind · 14 oz Score 17 out of 100 Bad
• Sweet & Salty Nut Peanut Chewy Granola Bar Nature Valley · 35 g Score 5 out of 100 Bad
• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Skinny Dipped · 1 cup Score 17 out of 100 Bad
• CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER protein bar Pure Protein · 50 g Score 28 out of 100 Poor
• Caramel Almond & Sea Salt with Almonds Kind · 1.4 oz Score 15 out of 100 Bad
• Chewy Protein Bar Kirkland Signature · 1.41 oz Score 22 out of 100 Poor
• Protein Chewy Bar Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Nature Valley · 1.4 oz bars Score 9 out of 100 Bad
• Nut Bars Kirkland · 40 g Score 12 out of 100 Bad
• Probiotic Strawberry Yoggies Nature's Garden · 21 oz Score 14 out of 100 Bad

Diets and allergens

Vegan

Yes

Vegetarian

Yes

Gluten-free

Yes

For the ingredient in general. Always check the package: a product’s own labels win.