Baby Safety / Compounds / Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i)

Is Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i) safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is ascorbyl palmitate (e304i)?

The IUPAC name is [(2S)-2-[(2R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-oxo-2H-furan-2-yl]-2-hydroxyethyl] hexadecanoate.

Also known as: [(2S)-2-[(2R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-oxo-2H-furan-2-yl]-2-hydroxyethyl] hexadecanoate, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, L-Ascorbyl 6-palmitate, L-Ascorbic acid 6-palmitate.

IUPAC name
[(2S)-2-[(2R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-oxo-2H-furan-2-yl]-2-hydroxyethyl] hexadecanoate
CAS number
137-66-6
Molecular formula
C22H38O7
Molecular weight
414.5 g/mol
SMILES
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(C1C(=C(C(=O)O1)O)O)O
PubChem CID
54680660

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i), potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2015Not evaluated by IARC for carcinogenicity — Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i; CAS 137-66-6; L-ascorbic acid 6-palmitate; the 6-palmitate ester of ascorbic acid; a fat-soluble form of vitamin C used as an antioxidant in fat-containing foods) is FDA GRAS (21 CFR 182.3149) and EU E304i (ascorbyl palmitate) with E304ii being ascorbyl stearate; JECFA ADI 1.25 mg/kg/day (as ascorbyl palmitate; combined ADI with ascorbic acid and other esters); EFSA 2015 opinion (EFSA Journal 2015;13(5):4087) confirmed safety at current use levels; no IARC, EPA, or EFSA carcinogenicity classification; ascorbyl palmitate is produced by esterification of L-ascorbic acid with palmitic acid (C16:0 saturated fatty acid — from palm oil or other vegetable sources); it is amphiphilic — the ascorbic acid head is hydrophilic and the palmitic acid tail is lipophilic — allowing it to partition into lipid phases (edible oils, fat-containing foods, lecithin bilayers) where water-soluble ascorbic acid cannot function; upon hydrolysis in the GI tract or in food matrices, it releases ascorbic acid and palmitic acid — both normal dietary components
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 2 positive / 1 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 2 positive / 1 negative reports)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter ascorbyl palmitate (e304i)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i):

  • Fragrance-free formulations
    Trade-offs: Consumer preference for scented products
    Relative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)
  • Essential oil-based fragrances (with disclosure)
    Trade-offs: Natural does not mean safe — many essential oils are skin sensitizers
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is ascorbyl palmitate (e304i) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain ascorbyl palmitate (e304i)?

Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to ascorbyl palmitate (e304i)?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Why do regulators disagree about ascorbyl palmitate (e304i)?

Ascorbyl palmitate (E304i) has been classified by 3 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

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Sources (1)
  1. Ascorbyl Palmitate CAS 137-66-6 L-Ascorbic Acid 6-Palmitate C22H38O7 E304i Amphiphilic Fat-Soluble Vitamin C; FDA GRAS 21 CFR 182.3149; EFSA 2015 EFSA Journal 13(5):4087 ADI 1.25 mg/kg/day E300-E304 Group; Hydrolysis Pancreatic Lipase GI Ascorbic Acid + Palmitic Acid Normal Dietary Components; Lipid-Water Interface Positioning Lipophilic Tail Hydrophilic Ascorbate Head; Tocopherol Sparing Alpha-Tocopherol Peroxyl Radical Interception Tocopheroxyl Regeneration; Fish Oil Omega-3 Infant Formula DHA ARA Protection; Vitamin E Synergist; Enzymatic Esterification Immobilized Lipase Production; Cosmetics Vitamin C Derivative Skin Care; Pro-Oxidant In Vitro Fenton Fe2+ Metal-Catalyzed Condition; Net Antioxidant Food Use; Ascorbyl Stearate E304ii CAS 10605-09-1 C18 Analog (2015) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →