What are the advantages of palm oil?
- Inexpensive
- Increased stability in heat applications, high smoke point
- Longer shelf-life.
- No trans fats
- Non-animal source
The application properties are linked to the fact that it is highly saturated. Like coconut oil, it is solid at room temperature, but is slightly lower in the level of unsaturated fats (50% vs 85%). Because of its lower cost, it becomes an excellent in fry applications or as an ingredient in confectionery, chocolate, or bakery products.
So there is a question of how healthy is palm oil, especially as it becomes a bigger part of the food we eat.
Another complaint is the degree to which manufacturers cheapen food with palm oil. Will we see the amount of palm oil in foods nudging higher in order to keep food cost low, for example, replacing cocoa butter in chocolate or dairy fat in ice cream?
But there is another issue. Palm oil comes from palm trees which are grown in tropical areas of the world. As more and more of tropical acreage is plowed under for palm trees, what long term impact will increased usage have on the environment including the wildlife in those areas? Can it be made in a way that can be considered sustainable? A certifying group, RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) has established criteria for sustainable palm oil and provides a mechanism for those using palm oil to identify more sustainable sources. But how much will that prevent deforestation? As large multinational companies buy the RSPO certified oil, there is bound to be smaller companies no longer to pay the premium for this, and will end up buying oil produced by less sustainable sources. Not unless all sources are forced to become RSPO certified producers.
Daily Mail.com
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6618407/Palm-oil-industry-deploying-tactics-similar-alcohol-tobacco-industries.html
Is palm oil safe? Studies into the controversial oil have been 'authored by the industry' as researchers demand independent probe
•Four of nine studies showing 'overwhelming' positives were from the industry
•Palm oil is expected to be used more as a trans fat - known as bad for health
•Researchers calling for more independent research and to be wary of lobbyists
By Vanessa Chalmers Health Reporter For Mailonline
Published: 04:35 EST, 22 January 2019 | Updated: 06:17 EST, 22 January 2019
Researchers have demanded an independent probe into the safety of palm oil amid claims existing studies have been funded by the industry.
Palm oil is a type of trans fat thought to be found in roughly half of all packaged goods on supermarket shelves in the UK under various names.
Trans fats are widely recognised as bad for health, but there is significant research, funded by the industry, pointing towards palm oil as healthy.
The palm oil industry has been accused of using tactics to influence research into its positive health effects, in a similar way to the alcohol and tobacco industries.
The oil, controversial for its extraction process in predominately Malaysia and Indonesia, needs more independent research, the researchers said.
Of nine pieces of research found in literature showing 'overwhelmingly positive health associations', four were authored by the palm oil industry, found the Unicef report.
This was specifically The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), a government agency responsible for the promotion and development of the palm oil industry in Malaysia.
'The contested nature of the evidence suggests the need for independent, comprehensive studies of the health impact of palm oil consumption,' the researchers wrote in the study, published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
'The relationship between the palm oil and processed food industries, and the tactics they employ, resembles practices adopted by the tobacco and alcohol industries.
'However, the palm oil industry receives comparatively little scrutiny,' the report said.
Palm oil consumption has been linked to a variety of ailments including risk of death from heart disease, high cholesterol and narrowing arteries - but the evidence is mixed.
But the researchers anticipate an increase of its use in food in the near future.
Palm oil is naturally more solid than other vegetable oils, therefore is an easy choice in the industrial process.
But it is also been banned by the US Food and Drug Administration with a similar recommendation by the WHO.
'An increase in the use of palm oil as a potential replacement for TFA in ultra-processed foods could be anticipated,' the report said.
The study said labelling on products is often unclear, and palm oil can be listed under any one of more than 200 alternative names.
It often appears in cookies, peanut butter, cereals, cleaning products, laundry detergent, lipstick and lotions.
'Consumers may be unaware of what they are eating or its safety,' the study said.
The study also pointed to the health effect of the production of palm oil, native to West Africa, in countries where it is grown.
The study said: 'Of major concern is the effect of exposure to particulate matter on fetal, infant and child mortality, as well as children's cognitive, educational and economic attainment.'
Researchers, led by Sowmya Kadandale from United Nations Children's Fund in Indonesia, urged for more research and tighter regulations.
The palm oil and processed food industries have mutually benefited, but researchers should be wary of being influenced by lobbyists.
The study comes after the controversy of the 2018 Iceland Christmas advert, which highlighted the harmful environmental impact of palm oil.
But the advert, created in partnership with Greenpeace, was banned from television after being deemed ‘too political'.
It featured an orangutan displaced due to deforestation. His forest home was replaced by a palm oil plantation.
Worldwide production of the oil has increased from 15 million tonnes in 1995 to 66 million tonnes in 2017.
Oil palm plantations cover an area roughly the size of New Zealand, with an area the size of a football pitch is torn down in Indonesia's rainforest every 25 seconds.
Oil palms typically grown in low-lying, tropical regions - the same areas are home to rainforests and peatlands, which host endangered species like orangutans, rhinos and tigers.
In many cases, deforestation has led to 'green deserts' which native animals and plants are unable to survive in.
Deforestation and the burning of forests pollutes the environment and increases greenhouse gas emissions, causing air pollution and haze linked to premature deaths, respiratory illness and cardiovascular diseases.
The WHO wants palm oil banned globally by 2023.
WHAT COMMON ITEMS IS PALM OIL IN AND WHAT CAN YOU USE INSTEAD?
Chocolate
Palm oil can give chocolate its smooth, shiny appearance and prevents melting.
Greenpeace said it had evidence that suppliers to Cadbury’s parent company Mondelez had destroyed 70,000 hectares of rainforest since 2016.
Mondelez International insists it is ‘committed to eradicating deforestation in the palm oil supply and actively working with suppliers to ensure palm oil is fully traceable’.
It added that 12 suppliers who did not meet company standards had been excluded.
Product containing palm oil: Cadbury Dairy Milk buttons.
. . .and one that doesn’t: Montezuma organic smooth milk chocolate giant buttons.
Ice cream
Palm oil helps make it smooth.
Product containing palm oil: Tesco vanilla ice cream.
. . .and one that doesn’t: Yeo Valley organic vanilla ice cream.
Bread
Palm oil is often used in baking as it is semi-solid, like butter.
Product containing palm oil: Kingsmill 50/50.
...and one that doesn’t: Essential Waitrose wholemeal medium sliced.
Breakfast cereal
The oil helps its crunch.
Product containing palm oil: Jordans Country Crisp.
. . .and one that doesn’t: Dorset Cereals oat granola.
Peanut butter
The oil, which is also used in margarine, aids spreadability.
Product containing palm oil: Asda smooth peanut butter.
. . .and one that doesn’t: Meridian organic crunchy peanut butter.
Shampoo
Our hair’s natural oils are restored by palm oil.
Product containing palm oil: Head & Shoulders.
. . .and one that doesn’t: PHB Ethical Beauty shampoo.
Roast potatoes
The oil is often in frozen roasts.
Product containing palm oil: Aunt Bessie’s homestyle roast potatoes.
. . .and one that doesn’t: Waitrose roast potatoes in goose fat.
Soap
The moisturising oil removes dirt and oil from skin and hair.
Product containing palm oil: Dove Beauty Cream Bar (Sodium Palm Kernelate).
. . .and one that doesn’t: Lush Fresh Farmacy facial soap.
Washing liquid
Refined palm oil is used in many cleaning products.
Product containing palm oil: Ariel original washing liquid (Sodium Palm Kernelate).
. . .and one that doesn’t: Lush Fresh Farmacy facial soap.
Washing liquid
Refined palm oil is used in many cleaning products.
Product containing palm oil: Ariel original washing liquid (Sodium Palm Kernelate).
. . .and one that doesn’t: Ecozone laundry liquid.
Candles
Palm oil’s high melting temperature makes it ideal for candles.
Product containing palm oil: It features in Ikea candles.
. . .and one that doesn’t: Bloomtown Botanicals candles.
Lipstick and liner
The oil holds colour well, is hard to melt and is tasteless.
Product containing palm oil: Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Liner.
. . .and one that doesn’t: Neek.
Pet food
Palm oil makes biscuits crispy.
Product containing palm oil: Tesco Christmas pudding biscuits for dogs.
. . .and one that doesn’t: Lily’s Kitchen Sun Shiny Day snack bar for dogs.
Vitamins
Chewy ones often use the oil.
Product containing palm oil: Bassetts orange and cranberry multivitamins.
. . .and one that doesn’t: Viridian High Five multivitamin
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