Tocopherols are a family of fat-soluble compounds with vitamin E activity, found naturally in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds. In the Codex system INS 307 is the group heading for tocopherols, divided into 307a (d-alpha-tocopherol, the natural form), 307b (mixed tocopherol concentrate, obtained from vegetable oils) and 307c (dl-alpha-tocopherol, made synthetically). In the EU tocopherols are numbered E306 to E309. Codex classes them as antioxidants.
Tocopherols protect fats by intercepting the free radicals that set off rancidity, which matters in snacks rich in oil. A label that shows only INS 307 does not say which form is used. On SeekSnack it appears in Campus - Choco Puff, a chocolate-filled biscuit whose additive list also includes the antioxidant TBHQ (INS 319) and lecithin.
