No, palm oil is not entirely saturated, but it contains a significant amount of saturated fatty acids.
Palm oil, extracted from the mesocarp (fleshy pulp) of the oil palm fruit, is composed of a mixture of different types of fatty acids: saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated. Its approximate fatty acid composition is as follows:
- Saturated Fatty Acids: Approximately 50%
- Monounsaturated Fatty Acids: Approximately 40%
- Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Approximately 10%
This composition means that while palm oil does contain a substantial portion of saturated fats, it also contains significant amounts of unsaturated fats, making it not purely a saturated fat. The presence of both saturated and unsaturated fats contributes to its semi-solid consistency at room temperature.
