Is Ascorbyl Palmitate (E304) Vegan?

Also known as: Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i), Ascorbyl stearate (E304ii), Fat-soluble vitamin C, Vitamin C ester

Depends on Source

Ascorbyl palmitate depends on the fat it was built from. Vitamin C supplies half the molecule and is vegan, while the palmitic acid half comes from palm oil in most production and from animal fat in principle. Only the manufacturer can confirm which.

Last checked 29 Jul 2026 How we decide

Ingredient Data

Vegan Status

Depends on Source

E-Number

E304

Also Known As

Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i); Ascorbyl stearate (E304ii); Fat-soluble vitamin C; Vitamin C ester

Source

An ester of ascorbic acid and palmitic acid. The ascorbic acid half comes from glucose by fermentation and chemical steps, and is vegan. The palmitic acid half comes from a fat, most often palm oil, which is why the compound carries that name; tallow and other animal fats are also commercial sources of palmitic acid, and the label does not say which was used.

Commonly Found In

Vegetable oils and frying fats, infant formula, breakfast cereals, sausages and processed meats, bakery products, supplements and vitamin blends, and skincare aimed at brightening.

Vegan Alternative

Tocopherols (E306 to E309) and ascorbic acid (E300) do similar antioxidant work, though ascorbic acid alone does not dissolve into fats.

Additional Notes

The vitamin C half is settled and vegan. The open question is the fatty acid half, and the same question runs through the whole emulsifier and fatty-acid-ester range: E470 to E483, E570, and E572. Most food-grade ascorbyl palmitate is made from palm oil, since palmitic acid is cheapest from that source, and manufacturers usually confirm plant origin when asked.

In depth

Two Halves, One Question

Ascorbic acid dissolves in water and cannot protect a fat from going rancid, because it never reaches the oil phase. Attaching a long fatty acid tail fixes that, giving a molecule with vitamin C's antioxidant chemistry and enough fat solubility to work inside an oil. The vitamin C half raises no sourcing question. Commercial ascorbic acid is made from glucose, usually from corn starch, through a fermentation and synthesis route with no animal input.

The fatty acid half is where the answer opens up. Palmitic acid is named for palm oil and is most cheaply obtained from it, and palm kernel and coconut oils supply it too. Rendered animal fat is also a commercial source of palmitic and stearic acids across the oleochemical industry, so nothing in the chemistry rules it out. EU specifications for E304 do not restrict the origin of the fatty acid.

How to Resolve It in Practice

Three routes get to an answer. A vegan certification mark on the finished product means the supply chain has been checked, including this ingredient. A manufacturer query usually gets a clear reply, because most producers buy palm-derived material and are used to the question. Products marked suitable for vegetarians in the UK have generally been checked for slaughter-derived material as well. Context helps too.

Ascorbyl palmitate in a plant-based product from a brand that markets to vegans is almost certainly palm-derived. The same additive in a sausage sits in a product that is not vegan regardless. The palm origin brings its own concern. Palm oil production drives deforestation in Southeast Asia, and readers who avoid palm for that reason face a different tradeoff, since the alternative sources for palmitic acid include animal fat.

Where It Turns Up

Frying oils and shortenings use ascorbyl palmitate to delay rancidity, often alongside tocopherols, which regenerate the ascorbyl form and make the pair more effective together. Infant formula uses it both as an antioxidant and as a vitamin C source, and breakfast cereals use it to protect added vitamins from oxidizing on the shelf. Supplement makers sell it as fat-soluble vitamin C for skin products, where it penetrates the skin barrier better than plain ascorbic acid. One neighboring number follows the same logic. E304(ii), ascorbyl stearate, uses stearic acid in place of palmitic and carries an identical open question about the fat source.

Frequently asked questions

Is E304 vegan?

Sometimes, and the label will not say. The vitamin C half is vegan, while the palmitic acid half comes from palm oil in most commercial production and can come from animal fat. Check for a vegan certification mark or ask the manufacturer.

Is ascorbyl palmitate always from palm oil?

Not by regulation. Palm oil is the cheapest and most common source of palmitic acid, so most food-grade material comes from it, but EU specifications do not restrict the fatty acid origin and tallow-derived fatty acids exist in the oleochemical trade.

What is the difference between E300 and E304?

E300 is ascorbic acid, plain vitamin C. It dissolves in water and is vegan without qualification. E304 attaches a fatty acid to it so the antioxidant can work inside oils and fats, which is what introduces the sourcing question.

Which antioxidants are vegan without checking?

Ascorbic acid (E300) and its sodium and calcium salts (E301, E302) are vegan, as are the synthetic antioxidants BHA (E320), BHT (E321), and propyl gallate (E310). Tocopherols (E306 to E309) are usually plant-derived, though the mixed natural form warrants a check.

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