Flavor Enhancer · CAS 57-10-3
Palmitic Acid
FDA status: Approved. EU: not separately listed. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Palmitic Acid is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 4 out of 5 (Low Risk). By tracked product count it ranks #268 of 417.
- #268 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Palmitic Acid is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #268 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (35th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #268 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Palmitic Acid: 6 tracked U.S. products (moderate band, #268 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 6 · #268 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Not separately listed | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | - | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 57-10-3 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Flavor Enhancer | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 4 / 5 (Low Risk) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
What is Palmitic Acid?
Palmitic Acid (CAS 57-10-3) is an FDA-regulated food substance used as flavor enhancer, flavoring agent or adjuvant, lubricant or release agent, surface-active agent.
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a moderate OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (6 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palmitic Acid safe to consume?
Palmitic Acid scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a moderate additive (6 tracked products, #268 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Palmitic Acid used for in food?
Palmitic Acid shows up as flavor enhancer, flavoring agent or adjuvant, lubricant or release agent, surface-active agent in the Flavor Enhancer class, and the OFF sample puts it in the moderate footprint band (6 products).
Where does Palmitic Acid sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #268 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.