Fat Powder | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Fat powder is a free-flowing powdered form of edible fat or oil produced by encapsulating liquid or semi-solid fats (from vegetable, dairy, or animal sources) within a carrier matrix such as maltodextrin, modified starch, or sodium caseinate, typically via spray drying. It is used in food manufacturing to deliver fat functionality — including mouthfeel, flavour, and energy — in a dry, shelf-stable, and easily blended form across applications such as bakery mixes, soups, creamers, infant formula, sports nutrition, and convenience foods.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

The safety of fat powder is primarily determined by the source fat and the carrier/encapsulant used; products derived from partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) pose cardiovascular risks due to industrial trans fatty acids, while those based on fully refined vegetable or dairy fats are generally considered safe for the general adult population within typical dietary intakes. No specific ADI has been established for fat powder as a category, as it is regulated under general frameworks for fats and oils rather than as a discrete food additive. High intake of saturated-fat-rich fat powders may contribute to elevated LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk; population groups with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, obesity, or lipid disorders should monitor overall fat intake.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia)	Approved	Fat powder is permitted as a food ingredient under Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The source fat and all encapsulant/carrier substances must comply with applicable standards. No specific standard exists for fat powder as a category; it falls under general standards for fats, oils, and permitted food additives.source
Health Canada (Canada)	Approved	Fat powder derived from permitted edible fats and oils is acceptable as a food ingredient under the Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870). Canada banned partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) effective September 17, 2018, under SOR/2018-37, effectively prohibiting PHO-derived fat powders. Carrier ingredients must be from the approved food additive lists.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Fat powder is not listed as a discrete food additive under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (the EU Union List of food additives). It is regulated as a processed fat/oil ingredient under general food law (Regulation (EC) No 178/2002). Carrier substances used in encapsulation (e.g., modified starches, emulsifiers such as lecithin E322, mono- and diglycerides E471) must individually comply with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Industrial trans fats in food products are limited to a maximum of 2 g per 100 g of fat under Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/649, effectively restricting use of partially hydrogenated fat powders.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Heart Disease — Fat powders with high saturated fat content can contribute to elevated LDL cholesterol; individuals with cardiovascular disease should monitor total saturated fat intake per EFSA and WHO dietary guidance on fats.

Infants — Infant formula incorporating fat powder must meet strict compositional standards (e.g., fatty acid profiles); use of non-compliant or high-saturated-fat powders in infant foods is restricted under FSSAI, FDA, and EU regulations specifically governing infant nutrition.

Pregnancy — Pregnant women should avoid fat powders derived from partially hydrogenated oils (where still in market) due to trans fat content, which WHO and national regulators associate with adverse pregnancy and fetal cardiovascular outcomes.

Obesity — Fat powder is a concentrated source of dietary fat and energy; individuals managing obesity or metabolic syndrome should limit consumption in line with broader dietary fat reduction guidelines from WHO and national health bodies.

— High saturated fat intake from fat powder-containing foods may worsen insulin resistance and lipid profiles in individuals with type 2 diabetes, per WHO dietary guidance for non-communicable disease prevention.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1PubMed. Encapsulation of Fats and Oils: A Review on Techniques, Carriers, and Challenges, 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2other. Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/649 of 24 April 2019 amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 as regards trans fat, other than trans fat naturally occurring in fat of animal origin, 2019. eur-lex.europa.eu
3FDA. Final Determination Regarding Partially Hydrogenated Oils (Removing Trans Fat), 2018. fda.gov
4WHO. WHO plan to eliminate industrially-produced trans-fatty acids from global food supply (REPLACE), 2018. who.int
5EFSA. Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for fats, including saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, and cholesterol, 2010. efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Independently researched5 citations