The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits coconut oil to be used as a direct food additive as a substitute for cocoa butter. Coconut oil, coconut acid and coconut alcohol are permitted for use as indirect food additives as defoaming agents in the manufacture of paper and paperboard used for food packaging. Coconut oil is also listed as a substance Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use in cotton and cotton fabrics used in dry food packaging. The safety of coconut Oil, coconut acid, hydrogenated coconut oil, hydrogenated coconut oil, coconut alcohol, butylene glycol cocoate, caprylic/capric/voco glycerides, cocoglycerides, coconut oil decyl esters, decyl cocoate, ethylhexyl cocoate, isodecyl cocoate, lauryl cocoate, methyl cocoate, octyldodecyl cocoate, pentaerythrityl cocoate, tridecyl cocoate, magnesium cocoate, potassium cocoate, sodium cocoate, ammonium cocomonoglyceride sulfate, sodium cocomonoglyceride sulfate, hydrogenated coco-glycerides, potassium hydrogenated cocoate and sodium hydrogenated cocoate has been assessed by the Expert Panel on Ingredient Safety. The Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that coconut oil and coconut acid and the other ingredients made from coconut oil and coconut acid were safe for use as cosmetic ingredients.

CIR Safety Review: The CIR Expert Panel reviewed acute, chronic, and subchronic oral toxicity studies indicating that Coconut Oil and Hydrogenated Coconut Oil were nontoxic by ingestion. Neither substance produced significant skin or eye irritation. No sensitization was reported. Clinical assessment of cosmetics and personal care products containing Coconut Oil and other coconut oil-derived ingredients produced very minimal skin irritation reactions. There was no indication that these ingredients were primary irritants, sensitizers, or phototoxic compounds following human testing. Based on the safety of Coconut Oil and the components of the other ingredients that have been reviewed previously, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that all of the coconut oil-derived ingredients reviewed in this report were safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products.

Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations for Coconut Oil and Coconut Acid

• Cocoa Butter Substitute from Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, or Both Oils 
• Defoaming Agents 
• Substances Migrating from Cotton and Cotton Fabrics used in Dry Food Packaging 

Coconut oil and its derivatives may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in the European Union.