Octyl Gallate
Also known as: E311, Octyl ester of gallic acid
Octyl gallate (E311) is an authorized food antioxidant in the EU with an established ADI; it is not commonly listed in the US FDA-approved food additive lists. EFSA's 2015 re-evaluation derived an ADI but noted limited toxicological data prompting conservative use levels.
What it is
Octyl gallate (E311), a synthetic antioxidant ester of gallic acid.
Antioxidant used to retard oxidation of fats and oils in foods.
Why it's flagged
- allergic contact dermatitis reports
- limited toxicological dataset
What regulators actually say
"EFSA's ANS Panel re-evaluated the safety of propyl gallate, octyl gallate and dodecyl gallate as food additives and established group ADIs based on available toxicological data."
Regulatory status
United States — FDA
not listed among standard FDA-permitted antioxidants (propyl gallate is permitted; octyl gallate is less common in US)
European Union — EFSA
authorized E311 with established ADI (EFSA 2015 re-evaluation of gallates)
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