E311 - Octyl gallate
What it is and how it is used
Octyl gallate is one of three alkyl gallates — esters of gallic acid with an alcohol of differing chain length — developed as fat-soluble antioxidants. Gallic acid itself comes from tannins in oak galls and sumac; the octyl ester makes it soluble in oil.
Its use was to slow the oxidation that turns fats and oils rancid, in the same role as propyl gallate (E 310) and the synthetic phenolics BHA and BHT. Unlike propyl gallate, it is no longer permitted.
Foods commonly containing it
None in Great Britain. It was used in edible fats and oils, fried snacks, and some dry products before its removal.
Safety summary
Octyl gallate is no longer an authorised food additive. Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/1481 of 4 October 2018 removed E 311 and E 312 from the Union list, taking effect from 25 October 2018, with a sell-through period for products lawfully placed on the market ending 25 April 2019. It does not appear in the FSA Register of Food Additive Authorisations.
The reason matters, and it was not a demonstration of harm. For octyl gallate the removal followed a lack of adequate toxicological data — EFSA could not establish an acceptable daily intake on the evidence available, and the Commission removed the additive rather than continue an authorisation that could not be underpinned. For dodecyl gallate (E 312), EFSA was not able to confirm safety as a food additive.
Propyl gallate (E 310) remains authorised in Great Britain. If you see a gallate on a current UK label, that is the one it will be.
Known concerns
The withdrawal was driven by a data gap rather than by evidence of harm: EFSA could not establish an ADI from the toxicological data available.