Palm oil has become a controversial topic of discussion. While it's reported to provide several health benefits, it also poses some potential health risks. Additionally, the production of palm oil is known to have environmental concerns. The main source of palm oil comes from west and southwest Africa and South America. However, in recent years, palm oil growth has expanded to southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Indonesia. These two countries produce more than 80% of the world's palm oil supply. The oil is one of the least expensive and most popular oils worldwide.
Some of the health benefits of palm oil are that it's an excellent source of vitamin E, it helps protect the polyunsaturated fats in the brain, slows dementia progression, reduces the risk of stroke, and prevents the growth of brain lesions. Additionally, there are some heart benefits to palm oil. It has been credited with providing protection against heart disease and has cholesterol lowering effects. Palm oil can improve the vitamin A levels in adults and young children.
However, there are also some health risks. Palm oil may increase, rather than decrease certain heart disease risk factors in some people. For example, repeatedly reheating the oil may decrease its antioxidant capacity and contribute to the development of heart disease. Palm oil doesn't just have negative impacts on our health. There are also many ethical issues regarding palm oil production and its effects on the environment, wildlife, and communities. Tropical forests and peatlands are being destroyed in the process of making palm oil.
2.45%
of land in southeast Asia is currently used for palm oil production.
27 million
hectares of the earth's surface consist of palm oil plantations
7.7 million
tons of palm oil was consumed in the EU in 2017
Palm oil is the most commonly produced vegetable oil, at 66 millions tons annually. Deforestation is anticipated to have devastating effects on global warming as forests play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gasses by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. The destruction of native land causes changes in the ecosystem that threatens the diversity and health of wildlife. Forests and human settlements have been destroyed and replaced by "green deserts" containing virtually no biodiversity on an area the size of New Zealand.
Day after day, huge tracts of rainforest in southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa are being bulldozed or torched to make room for more plantations, releasing vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Palm oil proves bad for the climate, endangered species, human rights violations, and impacts on our health. However there is some hope. Below are a list of tips to recognize, avoid and combat palm oil:
Enjoy a home-cooked meal. Use coconut oil, olive oil, or sunflower oil in place of palm oil.
1.
Read labels. Checking to see what your products are made of can help you make informed purchasing decisions.
2.
Remember that the customer is king! Ask retailers for palm oil free products or those using RSPO labels.
3.
Sign petitions and write your elected representatives. Online campaigns put pressure on policy makers.
4.
Speak out! Don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe in and inform others about palm oil and its contribution too deforestation.
5.
Leave your car at home. By carpooling or taking the bus you can reduce your carbon footprint.
6.
Be informed and inform others about what deforestation does to our environment.
7.
What is RSPO?
RSPO stands for Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. Since palm oil is found in 50% of supermarket products, it's important to know where you can purchase sustainable palm oil. As mentioned above, the production of palm oil destroys rainforests and biodiversity. Species such as orangutans are being put on the endangered species list because their habitats are being destroyed (80% in the past 20 years). The following is a list of some of the everyday products palm oil can be found in:
1. Lipstick
2. Pizza Dough
3. Instant Noodles
4. Shampoo
5. Ice Cream
6. Chocolate
7.Detergent
8. Cookies
9. Margarine
10. Biodiesel
11. Soap
12. Packaged Bread
As you can see, palm oil is in everything, which is why it's absolutely essential that as consumers, we are aware and informed where our products are coming from and what ingredients they contain. Before purchasing, look for RSPO labels to ensure your purchase is made with sustainable palm oil. The RSPO can give you confidence that the palm oil was produced in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
