Palm Oil in Food

Ash

As knowledge of palm oil increases, I've noticed that there are now products that advertise the fact that they do not contain any palm oil in it. One good example is the peanut butter that I bought recently. The only disadvantage is that the natural oil that is used instead makes the peanut butter quite "liquidy" so you have to always mix it a bit before spreading it.

Have you guys bought any products without palm oil in it?

Piri

Ash

To be honest if the palm oil is from a sustainable eco-farm I don't see a problem of using it.

I know it is a bit of a hassle, but you can just blend peanuts at home and avoid any additional ingredients just a bit of salt and that's it. If you toast them a bit it is better.

In general we don't really use any products with palm oil. Before I used some Nutella, but now don't really eat this kind of stuff at all or make it at home if there is a need.

Some candles are made out of the waste product of the palm oil industry.

I am Ashlynn

Ash As knowledge of palm oil increases

I didn't know how many things had palm oil in them until I read a news article about it not long ago.

It's in everything! Cosmetics, candles, washing powder, every type of food, and even drinks - it's in Fanta!

And it can also be given a whole lot of different names, so just because it doesn't say palm oil on the label it does not mean you are avoiding it, Glyceryl Stearate for example comes from palm oil.

Piri

I am Ashlynn Glyceryl Stearate for example comes from palm oil.

As well from coconut or olives for example. For example if you choose echo friendly cosmetics which has certifications most of the time you can find if ingredients come from eco friendly farms.

But it's true it is commonly used. But it is very hard to say the origin of GS if the information is not provided.

Coming back to the peanut butter injury remembered I saw in one online shop aswell a sign palm oil free. It became a selling point some years ago. But in my experience most of the people are/were not aware why. It was a misconception that palm oil has a negative impact on health (at least in Lithuania around 10 years ago when I was working in public health sector). But the main point was always about the forests.

John

I am Ashlynn It's in everything! Cosmetics, candles, washing powder, every type of food, and even drinks - it's in Fanta!

I didn't know it was in drinks, it seems like a really weird ingredient but I'm assuming they have since reason for adding it. Definitely not something that would inspire me to drink more Fanta though.

Ash

Yeah, looking at the ingredients of the peanut butter that I currently have, there's not much (if anything) that goes into it so I might have to give it a try and see if the homemade one is easy and quick.

Girl-from-Mars

I try to avoid palm oils but like somebody said it comes hidden under many different names, so it is not always so easy to quickly check the ingredients when you are standing in the shop.

Kyllikki

If you eat processed foods then it is hard not to eat palm oil in some thing or something else, and you can read all of the contents and still not even see it is there.

The only for sure way to avoid it is to eat less processed foods.

Piri

Kyllikki The only for sure way to avoid it is to eat less processed

Agreed!

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Kyllikki Exactly right 🙂

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