Palm oil is an oil extracted from the red fruit of the oil palm tree, primarily from the species Elaeis guineensis.¹ Although most American and European households opt for using olive oil and butter, palm oil is one of the world's most widely used cooking oils because it is inexpensive and very versatile.

Palm oil is commonly found in:

• Packaged foods such as cookies, chocolate, instant noodles, peanut butter, and margarine
• Personal care products like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and cosmetics
• Cleaning products and some biofuels

There are two main types:

• Palm oil: Made from the fleshy outer part of the fruit. It is naturally reddish due to beta-carotene but is often refined into a pale yellow oil.
• Palm kernel oil: Made from the seed (kernel) inside the fruit. It has a different fat composition and is often used in confectionery and cosmetics.

Formula manufacturers aim to replicate the fat composition of human breast milk as closely as possible. Human milk provides roughly 40-50% of its calories from fat,³ and the dominant saturated fatty acid in breast milk is palmitic acid. 

Because palmitic acid is also abundant in palm oil, it becomes the logical and cost-effective ingredient for formula fat blends.⁴ Baby formula producers often blend it with other vegetable oils such as sunflower, rapeseed (canola), and coconut oil to achieve the total fat profile that meets the EU regulatory requirements. The goal is to offer a formula with a fat content and essential fatty acids mix that closely mirrors what a breastfed infant would receive.

Aside from the previously mentioned health concerns around saturated fat, there are also concerns regarding palm oil's environmental impact.¹ Palm oil production has been linked to:

• Deforestation of tropical rainforests
• Loss of habitat for wildlife such as orangutans
• Greenhouse gas emissions from clearing forests and peatlands

However, sustainably produced palm oil aims to reduce these negative impacts, so its environmental impact depends greatly on how it is produced.

When it comes to controversy in baby formula, some clinical studies have found that infants fed formula with palm oil absorb slightly less fat and calcium than infants fed formulas without. What is also frequently reported by parents and documented in trials is that babies can sometimes have harder, less frequent stools when fed a formula with palm oil.

The table below summarizes palm oil content for several popular European organic infant formula brands. Brand-stage information is drawn from verified ingredient registry data. Always confirm against the current tin label, as formulations can change.

Note: ingredients can vary by country and product stage, and formulas may be reformulated, so parents should always check the current package ingredient list.

Kendamil, a British brand available across all three lines (Classic, Organic, and Goat), uses whole milk as a primary ingredient. Because whole milk already contributes a natural fat profile, including palmitic acid in a more bioavailable arrangement, the need for added palm oil is reduced. Kendamil instead uses a blend of sunflower oil, coconut oil, and rapeseed oil to round out the fatty acid profile without resorting to palm oil. This makes Kendamil a good choice for parents who want to avoid palm oil while staying with a reputable European formula.

Holle Goat formulas (all stages, including the Dutch Goat line) use sunflower oil and rapeseed oil as their fat sources. In contrast, Holle's cow milk stages do include palm oil in the fat blend, so parents choosing Holle should verify which product line they are selecting. 

Most of HiPP's formulas do contain palm oil, but its PURE line is designed without it. This line includes stages 1 through 4, and instead uses a mix of vegetable oils.

The most commonly reported issue associated with palm oil in formula is harder, firmer stools and lower stool frequency compared to infants fed breast milk or palm-oil-free formulas.⁵ However, it is important to note that harder stools are not the same as constipation, and many infants tolerate palm-oil-containing formulas without any apparent discomfort.

Reduced nutrient absorption is another concern. A review of nine studies found that babies fed formulas containing palm oil absorbed slightly less fat, palmitic acid, and calcium than babies fed formulas without palm oil. The studies also found somewhat higher bone mineral content among babies receiving palm oil-free formulas. However, these findings don't mean that palm oil-containing formula is unsafe; rather, they suggest that the form of palmitic acid in palm oil may not be absorbed as efficiently as the palmitic acid naturally found in breast milk.

Parents who notice that their infant has consistently hard stools, strains during bowel movements, or seems uncomfortable may find it worth discussing a formula switch with their pediatrician. Switching to a palm-oil-free formula is one avenue to explore, alongside ensuring adequate hydration.

Palm oil is a widely used and approved ingredient in infant formula. It's ideal for its palmitic acid content, which is the primary fatty acid found in human breast milk. Some controversy surrounds palm oil since it is a saturated fat, and there are environmental concerns around it. For infants, formulas that contain palm oil may cause harder stools and modestly reduce fat and calcium absorption.

Despite this, it is considered completely safe in infant formula, and many well-regarded formula brands use it as part of a fat blend. Parents who prefer to avoid it have good alternatives, like Kendamil (all lines) and Holle Goat (all stages). If your baby seems to be constipated or struggling with digestive issues, it's always best to consult your pediatrician before switching to a different formula.

1. World Wildlife Fund. 8 things to know about palm oil. WWF-UK. https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/8-things-know-about-palm-oil
2. Harvard Health Publishing. By the way, doctor: Is palm oil good for you? Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging-and-longevity/by_the_way_doctor_is_palm_oil_good_for_you
3. Bronsky J, Campoy C, Embleton N, et al. Palm oil and beta-palmitate in infant formula: a position paper by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Committee on Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019;68(5):742-760. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831323000893
4. Mancini A, Imperlini E, Nigro E, et al. Biological and nutritional properties of palm oil and palmitic acid: effects on health. Molecules. 2015;20(9):17339-17361. doi:10.3390/molecules200917339. https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/9/17339
5. Lasekan JB, Hustead DS, Masor M, Murray R. Impact of palm olein in infant formulas on stool consistency and frequency: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Food Nutr Res. 2017;61(1):1330104. doi:10.1080/16546628.2017.1330104.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28659741/
6. Koo WWK, Hockman EM, Dow M. Palm olein in the fat blend of infant formulas: effect on the intestinal absorption of calcium and fat, and bone mineralization. J Am Coll Nutr. 2006;25(2):117-122. doi:10.1080/07315724.2006.10719521.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16582027/