Tocopherols

INS 307a

Listed as a preservative and an antioxidant by Canada and Codex.

Listed as preservatives (CA) · antioxidants (Codex)

Tocopherols are the vitamin E family, used as antioxidants to stop fats and oils going rancid. They are often used in place of synthetic antioxidants such as BHA and BHT.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Tocopherols by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
JurisdictionStatusScope and limitsCitation
Australia and New ZealandFood Standards Australia New ZealandNo listed food uses foundThis site has not matched this substance to any food use on this jurisdiction’s list of authorised food additives. A food additive may be used only in foods that list names. Flavourings, enzymes, processing aids and added nutrients are regulated separately and do not appear on it.
CanadaHealth CanadaPermitted, with conditions

highest permitted level 300 mg/kg

9 permitted uses

Show every permitted use
  • In: Dehydrated fish broth; Dehydrated mollusc broth. Purpose: Preservative. Limit: 50 ppm in the reconstituted broth. Amendment notices: NOM/ADM-0136. — Health Canada, List of Permitted Preservatives (List 11), item T.3(a)
  • In: Dried cooked poultry meat. Purpose: Preservative. Limit: 0.03% of the fat content. Amendment notices: NOM/ADM-0025. — Health Canada, List of Permitted Preservatives (List 11), item T.3(b)
  • In: (Naming the flavour) essence; (Naming the flavour) extract; (Naming the flavour) flavour. Purpose: Preservative. Limit: Good Manufacturing Practice. Amendment notices: M-FAA-24-14. — Health Canada, List of Permitted Preservatives (List 11), item T.3(b.1)
  • In: Fats and oils, except milk fat, olive oil and suet; Lard; Mono- and diglycerides; Shortening. Purpose: Preservative. Limit: Good Manufacturing Practice. — Health Canada, List of Permitted Preservatives (List 11), item T.3(c)
  • In: Frozen fish fillets; Frozen prepared fish fillets. Purpose: Preservative. Limit: 300 ppm. — Health Canada, List of Permitted Preservatives (List 11), item T.3(d)
  • In: Infant formula. Purpose: Preservative. Limit: 10 ppm in the infant formula as consumed. — Health Canada, List of Permitted Preservatives (List 11), item T.3(e)
  • In: Oils used in infant formula. Purpose: Preservative. Limit: Good Manufacturing Practice. — Health Canada, List of Permitted Preservatives (List 11), item T.3(f)
  • In: Olive oil. Purpose: Preservative. Limit: Only α-tocopherol may be used, in an amount sufficient to replace that lost during refining, and the addition must be declared on the label. — Health Canada, List of Permitted Preservatives (List 11), item T.3(g)
  • In: Unstandardized foods, except unstandardized preparations of meat or meat by-product, fish or meat (as defined in section B.21.002 of the Food and Drug Regulations) or poultry meat or poultry meat by-product. Purpose: Preservative. Limit: Good Manufacturing Practice. Amendment notices: NOM/ADM-0122. — Health Canada, List of Permitted Preservatives (List 11), item T.3(h)
Health Canada, List of Permitted Preservatives (List 11)and 8 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-17
European UnionEuropean Commission / EFSANo listed food uses foundThis site has not matched this substance to any food use on this jurisdiction’s list of authorised food additives. A food additive may be used only in foods that list names. Flavourings, enzymes, processing aids and added nutrients are regulated separately and do not appear on it.
Great BritainFood Standards Agency / Food Standards ScotlandNo listed food uses foundThis site has not matched this substance to any food use on this jurisdiction’s list of authorised food additives. A food additive may be used only in foods that list names. Flavourings, enzymes, processing aids and added nutrients are regulated separately and do not appear on it.
JapanConsumer Affairs AgencyNo listing matchedThis site imports only Japan’s list of designated additives (Appended Table 1 to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act), matched by English name. Existing additives, natural flavouring agents and ordinary foods used as additives are permitted outside that list and are not imported, so an empty row does not show that Japan does not permit the substance.
South KoreaMinistry of Food and Drug SafetyNo listing matchedThis site imports Part III of South Korea’s Standards and Specifications for Food Additives, matched by CAS number, then INS number, then exact name. Mixed preparations and sanitisers are not imported, and an entry whose identifiers disagreed with a page’s is held for review, so an empty row does not show that South Korea does not permit the substance.
United StatesFood and Drug AdministrationPermitted21 CFR 182.3890and 1 further provisionretrieved 2026-10-17
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFAPermitted, with conditions

67 food categories

highest permitted level 5,000 mg/kg

Show every food category and its notes
  • 01.1.2 Other Fluid Milk (plain) — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 410 Excluding lactose reduced milks.
  • 01.1.4 Flavoured Fluid Milk Drinks — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
    • Note XS243 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Fermented Milks (CXS 243-2003).
  • 01.3.2 Beverage whiteners — 200 mg/kg
    • Note XS250 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for a Blend of Evaporated Skimmed Milk and Vegetable Fat (CODEX STAN 250-2006).
    • Note XS252 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for a Blend of Sweetened Condensed Skimmed Milk and Vegetable Fat (CODEX STAN 252-2006).
  • 01.4.4 Cream analogues — 200 mg/kg
  • 01.6.1 Unripened cheese — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 168 Singly or in combination: d-alpha-tocopherol (INS 307a), tocopherol concentrate, mixed (INS 307b) and dl-alpha-tocopherol (INS 307c).
    • Note 351 Only for use in products conforming to the Standard for Cream Cheese (CODEX STAN 275-1973).
    • Note XS221 Excluding products conforming to the Group Standard for Unripened Cheese including Fresh Cheese (CXS 221-2001).
    • Note XS262 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Mozzarella (CODEX STAN 262-2006).
    • Note XS273 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cottage Cheese (CXS 273-1968).
  • 01.6.2.3 Cheese powder (for reconstitution; e.g. for cheese sauces) — 300 mg/kg
  • 01.6.4 Processed cheese — 200 mg/kg
  • 01.6.5 Cheese analogues — 400 mg/kg
  • 01.7 Dairy-based desserts (e.g. pudding, fruit or flavoured yoghurt) — 500 mg/kg
    • Note XS243 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Fermented Milks (CXS 243-2003).
  • 01.8 Whey and whey products, excluding whey cheeses — 200 mg/kg
    • Note XS331 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dairy Permeate Powders (CXS 331-2017).
  • 02.1.1 Butter oil, anhydrous milkfat, ghee — 500 mg/kg
    • Note 171 Excluding anhydrous milkfat.
    • Note 513 Except for use in products conforming to the Standard for Edible Fats and Oils not Covered by Individual Standards (CXS 19-1981) at 300 mg/kg.
  • 02.1.2 Vegetable oils and fats — 300 mg/kg
    • Note 357 Except for use in refined olive oil, olive oil, refined olive-pomace oil and olive-pomace oil at 200 mg/kg to restore natural tocopherol lost in production.
    • Note 511 Excluding virgin and cold pressed oils in products conforming to the Standard for Edible Fats and Oils not Covered by Individual Standards (CXS 19-1981) and the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CXS 210-1999).
    • Note XS325R Excluding products conforming to the Regional Standard for Unrefined Shea Butter (CXS 325R-2017).
  • 02.1.3 Lard, tallow, fish oil, and other animal fats — 300 mg/kg
    • Note 527 Except for use in products conforming to the Standards for Fish Oils (CXS 329-2017), singly or in combination at 6000 mg/kg.
  • 02.2.2 Fat spreads, dairy fat spreads and blended spreads — 500 mg/kg
  • 02.3 Fat emulsions mainly of type oil-in-water, including mixed and/or flavoured products based on fat emulsions — 900 mg/kg
  • 02.4 Fat-based desserts excluding dairy-based dessert products of food category 01.7 — 200 mg/kg
  • 03.0 Edible ices, including sherbet and sorbet — 500 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
  • 04.1.2.11 Fruit fillings for pastries — 150 mg/kg
  • 04.1.2.2 Dried fruit — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 175 Excluding dried apricots, dates, raisins, dried longans and dried persimmons conforming to the General Standard for Dried Fruits (CXS 360-2020).
  • 04.1.2.6 Fruit-based spreads (e.g. chutney) excluding products of food category — 200 mg/kg
    • Note XS160 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Mango Chutney (CODEX STAN 160-1987).
  • 04.1.2.8 Fruit preparations, including pulp, purees, fruit toppings and coconut milk — 150 mg/kg
    • Note XS240 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Aqueous Coconut Products (CODEX STAN 240-2003).
    • Note XS314R Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Date Paste (CODEX STAN 314R-2013).
  • 04.1.2.9 Fruit-based desserts, incl. fruit-flavoured water-based desserts — 500 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
  • 04.2.2.2 Dried vegetables (including mushrooms and fungi, roots and tubers, pulses and legumes, and aloe vera), seaweeds, and nuts and seeds — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 613 Except for products conforming to the Regional Standard for Laver Products (CXS 323R-2017), only for use in Seasoned Laver Products.
    • Note XS38 Excluding products conforming to the General Standard for Edible Fungi and Fungus Products (CODEX STAN 38-1981).
    • Note XS336R Excluding products conforming to the Regional Standard for kava products for use as a beverage when mixed with water (North America and South West Pacific) (CXS 336R-2020).
  • 04.2.2.5 Vegetable (including mushrooms and fungi, roots and tubers, pulses and legumes, and aloe vera), seaweed, and nut and seed purees and spreads (e.g. peanut butter) — 300 mg/kg
    • Note XS57 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Processed Tomato Concentrates (CODEX STAN 57-1981).
  • 05.1.2 Cocoa mixes (syrups) — 500 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
  • 05.1.3 Cocoa-based spreads, incl. fillings — 100 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
    • Note XS86 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cocoa Butter (CODEX STAN 86-1981).
  • 05.1.4 Cocoa and chocolate products — 750 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
    • Note 168 Singly or in combination: d-alpha-tocopherol (INS 307a), tocopherol concentrate, mixed (INS 307b) and dl-alpha-tocopherol (INS 307c).
  • 05.1.5 Imitation chocolate, chocolate substitute products — 500 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
  • 05.2 Confectionery including hard and soft candy, nougats, etc. other than food categories 05.1, 05.3, and 05.4 — 500 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
    • Note XS309R Excluding products conforming to the Codex Regional Standard for Halawa Tehenia (CODEX STAN 309R-211).
  • 05.3 Chewing gum — 1,500 mg/kg
  • 05.4 Decorations (e.g. for fine bakery wares), toppings (non-fruit), and sweet sauces — 500 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
  • 06.2.1 Flours — 5,000 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
    • Note 186 For use in flours with additives only.
    • Note XS152 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Wheat Flour (CXS 152-1985).
    • Note XS301R Excluding products conforming to the Regional Standard for Edible Sago Flour (Asia) (CXS 301R-2011).
  • 06.3 Breakfast cereals, including rolled oats — 200 mg/kg
  • 06.4.2 Dried pastas and noodles and like products — 500 mg/kg
    • Note 211 For use in noodles only.
  • 06.4.3 Pre-cooked pastas and noodles and like products — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 211 For use in noodles only.
    • Note XS364R Excluding use in products conforming to the Regional standard for quick-frozen dumplings (CXS 364R-2026).
  • 06.5 Cereal and starch based desserts (e.g. rice pudding, tapioca pudding) — 500 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
  • 06.6 Batters (e.g. for breading or batters for fish or poultry) — 100 mg/kg
  • 06.8.1 Soybean-based beverages — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 643 For use only in composite/ flavoured soybean beverages and soybean-based beverages conforming to the Regional Standard for Non-Fermented Soybean Products (Asia) (CXS 322R-2015).
  • 07.1.2 Crackers, excluding sweet crackers — 200 mg/kg
  • 07.1.6 Mixes for bread and ordinary bakery wares — 100 mg/kg
  • 07.2.1 Cakes, cookies and pies (e.g. fruit-filled or custard types) — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 389 Except for use at 500 mg/kg in products containing nut paste
  • 07.2.2 Other fine bakery products (e.g. doughnuts, sweet rolls, scones, and muffins) — 200 mg/kg
  • 07.2.3 Mixes for fine bakery wares (e.g. cakes, pancakes) — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 11 On the flour basis.
  • 08.1.2 Fresh meat, poultry and game, comminuted — 300 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
    • Note 281 For use in fresh minced meat which contains other ingredients apart from comminuted meat only.
  • 08.2 Processed meat, poultry, and game products in whole pieces or cuts — 500 mg/kg
    • Note XS96 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cooked Cured Ham (CODEX STAN 96-1981).
    • Note XS97 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cooked Cured Pork Shoulder (CODEX STAN 97-1981).
  • 08.3 Processed comminuted meat, poultry, and game products — 500 mg/kg
    • Note XS88 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Corned Beef (CODEX STAN 88-1981).
    • Note XS89 Excluding products conforming to Standard for Luncheon Meat (CODEX STAN 89-1981).
    • Note XS98 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cooked Cured Chopped Meat (CODEX STAN 98-1981).
  • 08.4 Edible casings (e.g. sausage casings) — 5,000 mg/kg
    • Note 365 On a casings basis.
  • 09.2.2 Frozen battered fish, fish fillets and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
    • Note XS166 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Quick Frozen Fish Sticks (Fish Fingers), Fish Portions and Fish Fillets – Breaded or in Batter (CODEX STAN 166-1989).
  • 10.4 Egg-based desserts (e.g. custard) — 500 mg/kg
    • Note 72 On the ready-to-eat basis.
  • 12.2 Herbs, spices, seasonings, and condiments (e.g. seasoning for instant noodles) — 2,000 mg/kg
    • Note 421 For use in pastes and condiment products containing plant-derived oils only.
    • Note XS326 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Black, White and Green Peppers (CODEX STAN 326-2017).
    • Note XS327 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cumin (CODEX STAN 327-2017).
    • Note XS328 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dried Thyme (CODEX STAN 328-2017).
    • Note XS342 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dried Oregano (CXS 342-2021).
    • Note XS343 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for dried roots, rhizomes and bulbs: Dried or dehydrated ginger (CXS 343-2021).
    • Note XS344 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for dried floral parts: Cloves (CXS 344-2021).
    • Note XS345 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dried Basil (CXS 345-2021).
    • Note XS347 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for dried or dehydrated garlic (CXS 347-2019).
    • Note XS351 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dried Floral Parts - Saffron (CXS 351-2022).
    • Note XS352 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dried Seeds – Nutmeg (CXS 352-2022).
    • Note XS353 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dried or Dehydrated Chilli Pepper and Paprika (CXS 353-2022).
  • 12.4 Mustards — 200 mg/kg
  • 12.5 Soups and broths — 50 mg/kg
    • Note 346 For use in products conforming to the Codex Standard for Bouillons and Consommés (CODEX STAN 117-1981), singly or in combination: d-alpha-tocopherol (INS 307a), tocopherol concentrate, mixed (INS 307b), and dl-alpha-tocopherol (INS 307c) at 50 mg/kg.
  • 12.6.1 Emulsified sauces and dips (e.g. mayonnaise, salad dressing, onion dips) — 600 mg/kg
  • 12.6.2 Non-emulsified sauces (e.g. ketchup, cheese sauce, cream sauce, brown gravy) — 600 mg/kg
  • 12.6.3 Mixes for sauces and gravies — 300 mg/kg
    • Note 127 On the served to the consumer basis.
  • 13.1.1 Infant formulae — 10 mg/kg
    • Note 416 Tocopherol concentrate, mixed (INS 307b) only.
    • Note 551 Maximum use level is expressed as mg additive/L of food.
  • 13.1.2 Follow-up formulae — 30 mg/kg
    • Note 551 Maximum use level is expressed as mg additive/L of food.
  • 13.1.3 Formulae for special medical purposes for infants — 10 mg/kg
    • Note 416 Tocopherol concentrate, mixed (INS 307b) only.
    • Note 551 Maximum use level is expressed as mg additive/L of food.
  • 13.2 Complementary foods for infants and young children — 300 mg/kg
    • Note 15 On the fat or oil basis.
  • 13.3 Dietetic foods intended for special medical purposes (excluding products of food category 13.1) — 30 mg/kg
    • Note 553 For use of Tocopherol concentrate, mixed (INS 307b) only in products conforming to the Guidelines for Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (CXG 95-2022) at 10 mg/kg.
  • 13.4 Dietetic formulae for slimming purposes and weight reduction — 300 mg/kg
  • 13.5 Dietetic foods (e.g. supplementary foods for dietary use) excluding products of food categories — 300 mg/kg
  • 13.6 Food supplements — 2,000 mg/kg
    • Note 418 Except for use at 6,000 mg/kg, singly or in combination, on the basis of fish oils.
  • 14.1.4 Water-based flavoured drinks, including "sport," “energy,” or "electrolyte" drinks and particulated drinks — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 434 Carry-over from use as an antioxidant in flavours, colours, juice ingredients and nutrient preparations.
  • 14.2.7 Aromatized alcoholic beverages (e.g. beer, wine and spirituous cooler-type beverages, low-alcoholic refreshers) — 5 mg/kg
  • 15.1 Snacks - potato, cereal, flour or starch based (from roots and tubers, pulses and legumes) — 200 mg/kg
  • 15.2 Processed nuts, including coated nuts and nut mixtures (with e.g. dried fruit) — 200 mg/kg
CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 307aand 66 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07

How much is permitted

A listing usually limits the quantity as well as the food. Only one of the forms that takes is a figure: quantum satis and good manufacturing practice permit the amount the technological effect requires and no more, which is a limit rather than the absence of one. Figures below are the range across every food category this page is listed in, and categories differ between regulators — see how much is permitted.

Canada300 mg/kg1 numeric limit, 4 GMP, 4 no quantity stated
United States—2 no quantity stated
Codex Alimentarius5 mg/kg – 5,000 mg/kg67 numeric limit

What it is made from

Recovered from the distillate left over from refining vegetable oils, chiefly soya, sunflower and rapeseed. Synthetic forms exist but the additive is normally the plant-derived mixture.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

Compare other additives on the dietary indexes.

Every name it appears under

4 recorded names. A label may use any of them.

INS number

  • 307a

As it appears in regulation

  • Tocopherols

Other names

  • d-alpha-Tocopherol
  • TOCOPHEROLS

Hazard reference values

Values set by assessing bodies. A body that has not set a value is not listed here.
TypeValuePopulationAssessed byOpinion
ADI0.15–2 mg/kg bw/day—JECFA1986

Evidence and how bodies read it

What assessing bodies concluded

Each conclusion is paraphrased in the body's own framing, from the published opinion linked beneath it. Where bodies differ, both stand; this site does not adjudicate between them or add a view of its own.

  1. EFSA 2015

    The ANS Panel considered the data too limited to establish an ADI for the tocopherols (E 306–E 309), and found no concern for genotoxicity or carcinogenicity. Taking into account that vitamin E is an essential nutrient and upper intake levels were not generally exceeded, it concluded that tocopherols are not of safety concern at the levels used in food.

    Source document

Common questions

Assembled from what is above, in the words the questions are usually asked in. Each answer is the same statement the relevant section makes, with the same citations behind it.

What is INS 307a?
INS 307a is Tocopherols. Tocopherols are the vitamin E family, used as antioxidants to stop fats and oils going rancid. They are often used in place of synthetic antioxidants such as BHA and BHT.
What is Tocopherols used for in food?
It is listed as a preservative and an antioxidant — the role Canada and Codex assign it. This page shows every function each regulator records, with the citation for each.
Is Tocopherols banned in Europe?
No. Tocopherols does not appear on the EU's list of authorised food additives, which is not the same as being banned: the EU permits an additive only where it has authorised it, and usually the reason for an absence is that no one applied. The EU has made no finding against this substance. It does mean it may not be used as a food additive in the EU today.
Where is Tocopherols permitted?
Of the seven regulators this site reads, Canada, the US and the Codex standard permit it. Each permission is for named foods at named levels, not a blanket one; the table on this page gives them with citations.
Is Tocopherols vegan?
Yes. Tocopherols is not derived from animals, and is suitable for vegetarians. This page says what it is made from and how.

Sources for this page

  • ca retrieved 2026-10-17
  • ecfr retrieved 2026-10-17
  • gsfa retrieved 2026-09-07

Full licence terms and publisher details on Sources. How this page is built and updated: Method.

Machine-readable: a JSON record of this additive is given on request —how to ask for access.

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