Octyl gallate
- Benchmark: Benchmark 2
- Assessed: 2025-10-30
- Expires: 2030-02-24
Used primarily in Cosmetics & Personal Care, and Food Contact & Additives applications, Octyl gallate is specifically used in antioxidant, cosmetics, and food additive.
Octyl gallate is the n-octyl ester of gallic acid. It is used as an antioxidant in food and cosmetics. In the United States, octyl gallate is approved as an antioxidant in margarine (21 CFR§166.110)(U.S. FDA 2024). In contrast, on October 4, 2018, the European Commission removed octyl gallate (European food number E311) from the list of approved European food additives due to data deficiencies (EC 2018, 2024). Octyl gallate is synthesized by esterification of gallic acid and octanol in the presence of a catalyst (EFSA 2015).
Chemical Synonyms Octyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate; n-Octyl gallate; n-Octylgallate; Gallic acid, octyl ester; Gallic acid n-octyl ester; n-Octyl ester of 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (PubChem 2024)
Key Functions: Cosmetics & Personal Care, Food Contact & Additives