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E309AntioxidantLow concern
Delta-Tocopherol
In plain words
The short version
δ-Tocopherol — the highest-antioxidant-activity tocopherol form, with minimal vitamin-E activity.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
ADI not specified — considered safe. Like other tocopherols, an endogenous metabolite consumed at much higher levels through diet than as an additive.
The detail
Naturally present in soybean oil — the dominant tocopherol of the soybean-deodorizer-distillate concentrate that feeds the mixed-tocopherol industry. Also produced by chemical synthesis.
Used as an antioxidant in vegetable oils and snack frying fats where the higher chemical antioxidant activity (vs α-tocopherol) outweighs the lower vitamin-E activity. Common in oil-blending formulations targeting long shelf life rather than vitamin-E claims.
Pale yellow viscous oil. Insoluble in water; soluble in oils and ethanol. Slightly more oxidation-stable than α-tocopherol.
Permitted in the EU, mostly at quantum satis, but not in virgin oils and olive oils, and with maximum levels (together with other tocopherols) in infant formulae, follow-on formulae and baby foods. Tocopherols are generally recognised as safe in the US (21 CFR 182.3890).
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, consolidated text of 18.08.2026 (Annex II, category 02.1 and 13.1) — Publications Office of the European Union, 2026. EU conditions of use for E 309 (excluded from virgin and olive oils; limits in infant foods)
- 21 CFR 182.3890 Tocopherols (GRAS chemical preservative) — US FDA / Office of the Federal Register (eCFR). US status: GRAS under good manufacturing practice
- JECFA database: Tocopherol concentrate, mixed (INS 307b) specification entry — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), 1986. δ-tocopherol is a component of mixed tocopherol concentrates
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.