Palm kernel nuts

Description

Palm kernel nuts

Palm kernel nuts come from the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis), native to West Africa but now widely grown in tropical regions (Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria, etc.).

• The fruit of the oil palm has two oil-rich parts:
  1. Palm oil – extracted from the fleshy pulp (orange-red mesocarp).
  2. Palm kernel oil – extracted from the seed/inner nut (the kernel inside the shell).

The palm kernel nut is that inner seed, surrounded by a hard shell, found inside the fruit.

Uses of Palm Kernel Nuts

1. Palm Kernel Oil (PKO)
   • High in saturated fats (lauric acid, myristic acid).
   • Used in cooking oils, margarines, confectionery, ice cream, and baked goods.
   • Industrial use: soaps, detergents, cosmetics, biodiesel.
2. Palm Kernel Cake/Meal (byproduct)
   • After oil extraction, the leftover press cake is rich in protein and fiber.
   • Widely used as livestock feed (especially for cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry).
3. Shells
   • Used as fuel, in activated charcoal production, or as a filler in road construction.

 Nutrition & Health

• Palm kernel oil:
  • High in calories and saturated fats → provides energy but should be consumed in moderation.
  • Unlike palm oil, PKO is solid at room temperature and similar in profile to coconut oil.
• Palm kernel cake: valuable as animal feed but not commonly eaten by humans.