Abstract: A composition useful for the adsorptive bleaching of edible oils, particularly of vegetable oils, is disclosed. The composition consists essentially of a major portion of bleaching clay and a minor portion of an alumino-silicate zeolite preferably of the faujasite-type structure. The zeolite used has its base exchange sites occupied by alkaline earth metal and/or transition metal cations, wherein the transition metal cations employed exclude those of the Group VIII metals. Preferably, the zeolite is a calcium-, magnesium-, or lanthanum-exchanged Y-zeolite. The presence of the zeolite in the bleaching composition significantly improves the removal of free fatty acids from the oil while permitting simultaneous removal of color impurities.