Product Overview
Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) is a fat-soluble vitamin supplied by EZ Elements in its retinyl palmitate form, an ester of retinol and palmitic acid. This is the most common commercial form of Vitamin A, chosen specifically because it is significantly more stable to heat, light, and oxidation than pure retinol, making it practical for both food fortification and personal care formulation.
Vitamin A activity is typically expressed in International Units (IU) per gram, and the ingredient is available in different potencies and physical forms, including oil-based liquids for personal care and lipid-soluble food use, and water-dispersible powders or beadles designed for fortifying aqueous food and beverage systems.
Why It Is a Go-To Vitamin A Source for Formulators
Retinyl palmitate has become the standard commercial form of Vitamin A across food and personal care industries, and its properties explain why.
- Significantly more stable than retinol. Esterifying retinol with palmitic acid protects it against the rapid oxidation and light degradation that limit pure retinol’s practical use in formulation.
- A trusted food fortification ingredient. Retinyl palmitate is one of the most widely used sources of added Vitamin A in fortified dairy products, margarine, cereals, and infant formula worldwide.
- Antioxidant and skin conditioning properties. In personal care formulations, it is valued for supporting skin appearance and providing antioxidant activity, generally considered gentler than unesterified retinol.
- Available in multiple forms. Oil-based and water-dispersible powder or beadle forms allow formulators to select the format that fits their specific food, beverage, or personal care system.
Key Features & Benefits
- A stable, esterified form of Vitamin A suited to both food fortification and personal care formulation.
- Available in multiple potencies and physical forms, including oil and water-dispersible powder or beadle formats.
- Widely recognized and permitted as a food fortification ingredient in dairy, margarine, cereal, and infant formula applications.
- Contributes antioxidant and skin conditioning properties in personal care formulations.
Applications
Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) is used across both food and personal care formulation categories served by EZ Elements.
- Fortified dairy products, milk alternatives, and margarine
- Fortified cereals and infant formula
- Nutraceutical and dietary supplement formulations
- Anti-aging creams, serums, and night treatments, where it functions as an antioxidant and skin conditioning agent
- Moisturizers and after-sun formulations
Technical Specifications
| Property | Specification |
| INCI Name | Retinyl Palmitate |
| CAS No. | 79-81-2 |
| Chemical Description | Ester of retinol (Vitamin A) and palmitic acid |
| Molecular Formula | C36H60O2 |
| Appearance | Pale yellow to golden oily liquid (oil form); pale yellow powder or beadle (water-dispersible food grade) |
| Potency | Commonly available from approximately 250,000 to 1,700,000 IU per gram, depending on form and grade |
| Solubility | Oil form: insoluble in water, soluble in oils; water-dispersible forms are designed for aqueous food systems |
| Storage | Store in a cool place, ideally refrigerated, protected from light and oxygen, since Vitamin A is sensitive to degradation |
| Regulatory Status (Cosmetic, EU) | Retinol, Retinyl Acetate, and Retinyl Palmitate are restricted under EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex III to a maximum of 0.05% Retinol Equivalent in leave-on products and 0.3% Retinol Equivalent in rinse-off products; other jurisdictions may differ |
| Regulatory Status (Food) | Permitted as a source of Vitamin A for food fortification, subject to applicable Health Canada regulations and use level limits for the specific food category |
| Documentation | TDS, COA, and SDS available on request; confirm grade specific specifications before formulation |
Why Choose EZ Elements as Your Supplier
EZ Elements supplies Vitamin A with documentation and consistency, supporting food and personal care formulators across Canada.
- Full documentation including Technical Data Sheet (TDS), Certificate of Analysis (COA), and Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Available in a range of package sizes with transparent, competitive pricing
- Technical support to help you confirm the right form, potency, and use level for your application
Safety & Regulatory Notes
- Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that accumulates in the body. Excessive intake of preformed Vitamin A, including from retinyl palmitate, is well documented to carry reproductive and developmental risks at high doses, and some jurisdictions require specific warning labeling above defined thresholds.
- Cosmetic use of Retinyl Palmitate is subject to concentration limits under EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex III (0.05% Retinol Equivalent in leave-on products, 0.3% in rinse-off products), and cosmetic labeling requirements may apply depending on your target market.
- Food fortification use levels must comply with applicable Health Canada regulations for the specific food category.
- Protect from light, heat, and oxygen during storage and handling to preserve potency.
- Confirm applicable regulatory requirements for your specific product, market, and intended use level before formulating.
Complete handling, first aid, and disposal instructions are provided in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available from EZ Elements. Please review the full SDS and confirm regulatory requirements with your quality and regulatory team before use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) used for?
It is used to fortify foods such as dairy products, margarine, cereals, and infant formula with Vitamin A, and it is also used in personal care formulations for its antioxidant and skin conditioning properties.
Q2: Why is retinyl palmitate used instead of pure retinol?
Retinyl palmitate is significantly more stable to heat, light, and oxidation than pure retinol, which makes it far more practical to incorporate into food and personal care products with a normal shelf life.
Q3: Are there regulatory limits on how much Vitamin A can be used?
Yes. In cosmetics, the EU restricts Retinol, Retinyl Acetate, and Retinyl Palmitate to a maximum of 0.05% Retinol Equivalent in leave-on products and 0.3% in rinse-off products. In food, use levels are governed by Health Canada regulations specific to each food category. Confirm the applicable limits for your product and market before formulating.
Q4: Is Vitamin A safe at high doses?
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient, but excessive intake of preformed Vitamin A, including retinyl palmitate, carries well documented reproductive and developmental risks at high doses. Formulators should follow applicable regulatory use levels and consult full safety documentation.
Q5: How should Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) be stored?
It should be stored in a cool place, ideally refrigerated, and protected from light and oxygen, since Vitamin A degrades with exposure to heat, light, and air.
Q6: Where can I buy Vitamin A in Canada?
Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) is available directly from EZ Elements in a range of package sizes, with supply options for food and personal care formulators across Canada. Visit our website to view current promotions and offers.
Order or Enquire
Looking to buy Vitamin A in Canada? Contact EZ Elements for current pricing, full product documentation, and available package sizes. Visit our website to view current promotions and offers. We supply formulators across Canada.
