E304 - Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid

Functions: Antioxidant

Ascorbyl palmitate is an ester formed from ascorbic acid and palmitic acid creating a fat-soluble form of vitamin C. In addition to its use as a source of vitamin C, it is also used as an antioxidant food additive -E number E304-. It is approved for use as a food additive in the EU, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.Ascorbyl palmitate is known to be broken down -through the digestive process- into ascorbic acid and palmitic acid -a saturated fatty acid- before being absorbed into the bloodstream. Ascorbyl palmitate is also marketed as "vitamin C ester". - Wikipedia

EFSA evaluation: Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of ascorbyl palmitate -E 304i- and ascorbyl stearate -E 304-ii-- as food additives (2015-11-18)