Vegetable Oil And Fat
Also known as: vegetable fat and oil
This umbrella label is non-specific and obscures the actual oil(s) used, which matters because composition (saturated fat, palmitic acid, ALA, sustainability) varies widely. FDA banned partially hydrogenated oils (the primary trans-fat source) in foods after the 2018 GRAS revocation.
What it is
Generic category covering edible oils and fats from plant sources (palm, soybean, sunflower, canola, etc.).
Cooking medium / fat ingredient / texturizer.
What regulators actually say
"FDA finalized its determination that PHOs are no longer Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for any use in human food."
"Glycidyl fatty acid esters and 3-MCPD esters are formed during refining of vegetable oils, in particular palm oil."
Regulatory status
United States — FDA
PHOs no longer GRAS as of 2018; non-PHO vegetable oils permitted
European Union — EFSA
EFSA monitors process contaminants in refined oils
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