1. Origin: The Two Oils from One Fruit
The oil palm fruit produces two distinct types of oil, extracted from different parts:
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Palm Oil (PO): Extracted from the mesocarp (the fleshy outer part of the fruit). It is reddish in color, rich in carotenoids and vitamin E, and has a different fatty acid profile.
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Palm Kernel Oil (PKO): Extracted from the kernel (the inner seed or stone) inside the fruit. It is white or yellowish, and its chemical composition is fundamentally different.
Think of it as a coconut: you get oil from the white meat (similar to palm oil) and a completely different oil from the dried kernel inside (similar to palm kernel oil).
Key Takeaway: PKO and PO are separate commodities with different markets, applications, and chemical properties.
