Going Palm Oil Free

[Mr T]

Having watched various documentaries and seeing first hand the impact of palm oil plantations on the environment, I was wondering how many people here try to live palm oil free? I have found it a challenge and actually quite interesting going through food labels to see which foods contain palm oil and trying to find alternatives. Are there any fellow zoochatters who do the same?

 

[Shirokuma]

I try but it's a real challenge, it is an ingredient of so many things.

 

[Javan Rhino]

Having watched various documentaries and seeing first hand the impact of palm oil plantations on the environment, I was wondering how many people here try to live palm oil free? I have found it a challenge and actually quite interesting going through food labels to see which foods contain palm oil and trying to find alternatives. Are there any fellow zoochatters who do the same?

In an ideal world I probably would, but the fact is it's hidden amongst a long list of ingrediants and I don't have time to sift through every product to see. If products had a symbol that was large and easy to spot on the packaging that said 'palm-oil free' then I would certainly avoid it better than I likely do.

I know I eat fridgeraiders that have palm oil in, but I'm such a fussy eater and they are a perfect, conveniant and tasty snack if out and about.

 

[Mr T]

You are indeed correct Javan Rhino. It is often hidden under the label of vegetable oil and most supermarkets do this. Sainsbury's however list it as palm oil and as it is my local supermarket I can actually do a pretty easy scan of the labels and do a palm oil free shop. After a few weeks of doing it I began to learn which items were free of it and which ones were not.

 

[PAT]

Melbourne Zoo has a campaign going to try and get it labeled on food as palm oil and not just vegetable oil so that people who want to avoid it are able to. I haven't eaten Zappo's since I found out they had palm oil in them. That's the biggest sacrifice I've made for any cause.

 

[zooboy28]

Melbourne Zoo has a campaign going to try and get it labeled on food as palm oil and not just vegetable oil so that people who want to avoid it are able to. I haven't eaten Zappo's since I found out they had palm oil in them. That's the biggest sacrifice I've made for any cause.

Auckland Zoo are also part of this campaign (I think its the same), and produce a leaflet at Easter that details which chocolate products are palm-oil free (which I followed - although I haven't taken it any further than that). They have also stopped stocking all products containing palm oil in their shops/cafes, and are part of the push to get palm-oil labelled on food products (which it almost never is - hidden as 'vegetable oil').

 

[PAT]

Yeah that sounds like the same campaign. Maybe it was all of the major zoos in Australiasia because Perth, Taronga and Adelaide were involved too. There are also a lot of websites to check for which brands use it. I just did a quick search and found out Ben and Jerry's uses it too. I'm going to give that up from now on too.

 

[karoocheetah]

If we go totally palm oil free (which I honestly don't think is possible currently) then the Malaysian economy for one suffer severe financial hardship and those dependant on the plantations for income would suffer as a consequence.

What we need to be doing is to ensure all Palm Oil used comes from only ethical and proven sustainable plantations that are actively ensuring both the survival of indigenous wildlife and the halt and indeed reversal of the hardships and damage caused by the unscrupulous rape of the natural resources of the country.
Many of the larger global conpanies have recognised to their cost (and rightly so) that public opinion now is vocal and potentially damaging to their business and as such they cannot and will not ignore the rising tide of public awareness that has risen particularly at the plight of the Orangs over the spread due to destruction of their habitat. They are now at pains to prove that they are only using Palm Oil from sustainable plantations and as such are not only supporting the local economy by recognising the need for them to trade but also the global outcry over the deforestation, but in a word that sees Palm Oil as a versatile and cheap resource I doubt that a total ban will occur in my life time if ever - it's used in so many products from food to personal care that to try to replace it with something else not petroleum based would surely only shift the problem elsewhere?

Truely sustainable palm oil plantations are the only answer, with serious reparation needed to reverse the damage already done and restoration of deforested areas.
Like the Zoo's mentioned above and several in the UK, including Chester, joining the campaign alongside business (particularly foods) highlighting that they are NOT supporting the unsustainable trade and highlighting the campaign to the public locally - we can be more aware and make a personal stand and that will eventually turn the tide - hopefully soon as the current level of habitat loss is frightening.

 

[Mr T]

Thanks for the reply Karoocheetah and I agree with the points you are making. However most products that use sustainable palm oil advertise the fact (as it is good publicity) and I am prepared to buy these items as part of my shop. But back to the original question, do you personally try to shop (unsustainable) palm oil free ?

 

[SMR]

According to what we were told at the Chester members' evening this past Wednesday, it will soon become law in the UK that all products containing palm oil state whether or not it is from a sustainable and ethical resource.

It'll take a while for everyone to come on board (the deadline is 2015) but given the marketing advantages for companies who use or switch to sustainable palm oil, we're likely to see prominent voluntary labelling well before that.

 

[Arizona Docent]

I have been reading the labels for about a year now and do not buy items with palm oil. Of course I also do not eat a lot of prepackaged food or junk food, so it is not that hard. If we can get the sustainable palm oil thing going, as they seem to be trying (like KarooCheetah mentioned), that is of course good. We have done it now with seafood and lumber (FSC certified), so I see no reason it could not work here. But it is really not that hard to go without it.

Here in the U.S. all products are marked with the type of vegetable oil (soy, corn, palm), so I assume that is a requirement. Sounds like Australia does not require that specific labelling yet. Often you do not have to give up an entire type of product, but just a brand. With crackers, I found that the generic store brand I used to buy has palm oil while the name brand does not.

 

[karoocheetah]

Thanks for the reply Karoocheetah and I agree with the points you are making. However most products that use sustainable palm oil advertise the fact (as it is good publicity) and I am prepared to buy these items as part of my shop. But back to the original question, do you personally try to shop (unsustainable) palm oil free ?

yes I do in answer to your question - but again that relies on some labelling honesty too