Palm oil free. What does that mean exactly?
Update November 09, 2022
PALM OIL’S FUTURE IS SUSTAINABLE; THE DISCOURSE IS STUCK IN THE PAST
In the light of the recently published Palm Oil Barometer and as sustainable palm oil production continues to be a topic of much conversation, Solidaridad’s policy advisor Michel Riemersma reflects on the persisting paradox around this commodity.
Sustainability achievements in the palm oil sector are currently flooding the expert newsletters. The year 2022 is “on track to record Indonesia’s lowest palm-oil-driven deforestation”, whilst 93% of the EU imports of palm oil for food, feed, and oleochemicals are RSPO-certified. European companies have made big efforts to cut ties with the worst deforesters, and the deforestation risk for imported palm oil is getting lower and lower. It’s great to see that the combined efforts of NGOs, companies, governments and, above all, farmers, have made this progress in sustainable development.
IMAGE IS A STICKY MATTER
Yet, these expert insights do not resonate with a larger audience, and the idea that palm oil is bad in itself is still dominating the palm oil discourse in Europe. No matter the improvements made by the sector, the smeared image of palm oil is sticky. While we should of course address companies’ wrongdoings, it is important not to overlook the positive effects of the sector and its role in sustainable development in the global south.
SEARCHING FOR REAL SOLUTIONS
A new discourse on palm oil should thus not be limited to palm oil. Let’s ditch the oversimplified marketing phrase ‘no palm oil’ and search for real solutions. The oil palm should be discussed as one of the crops that can feed the world, ensuring that farmers prosper in balance with nature.
The recently published Palm Oil Barometer makes the case for integrative approaches to rural development that center the needs of local people and the environment. Solidaridad
PALM OIL’S FUTURE IS SUSTAINABLE; THE DISCOURSE IS STUCK IN THE PAST
In the light of the recently published Palm Oil Barometer and as sustainable palm oil production continues to be a topic of much conversation, Solidaridad’s policy advisor Michel Riemersma reflects on the persisting paradox around this commodity.
Sustainability achievements in the palm oil sector are currently flooding the expert newsletters. The year 2022 is “on track to record Indonesia’s lowest palm-oil-driven deforestation”, whilst 93% of the EU imports of palm oil for food, feed, and oleochemicals are RSPO-certified. European companies have made big efforts to cut ties with the worst deforesters, and the deforestation risk for imported palm oil is getting lower and lower. It’s great to see that the combined efforts of NGOs, companies, governments and, above all, farmers, have made this progress in sustainable development.
IMAGE IS A STICKY MATTER
Yet, these expert insights do not resonate with a larger audience, and the idea that palm oil is bad in itself is still dominating the palm oil discourse in Europe. No matter the improvements made by the sector, the smeared image of palm oil is sticky. While we should of course address companies’ wrongdoings, it is important not to overlook the positive effects of the sector and its role in sustainable development in the global south.
SEARCHING FOR REAL SOLUTIONS
A new discourse on palm oil should thus not be limited to palm oil. Let’s ditch the oversimplified marketing phrase ‘no palm oil’ and search for real solutions. The oil palm should be discussed as one of the crops that can feed the world, ensuring that farmers prosper in balance with nature.
The recently published Palm Oil Barometer makes the case for integrative approaches to rural development that center the needs of local people and the environment. Solidaridad
Update November 08, 2022
COP27: Major food firms detail plans to eliminate deforestation by 2025
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The world's largest food trading companies detailed a plan on Monday to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains for soy, beef and palm oil by 2025, a step seen as essential to averting catastrophic climate change.
Destruction of forests - like the Amazon rainforest to make way for farm fields and ranches or Indonesian jungle for palm oil - emits huge amounts of greenhouse gas each year, helping to drive climate change.
The roadmap, launched at the COP27 United Nations climate summit in Egypt, comprises 14 firms including Cargill, Bunge (BG.N), Archer Daniels Midland , Louis Dreyfus Company, Brazil's JBS (JBSS3.SA) and China's COFCO International. Reuters
COP27: Major food firms detail plans to eliminate deforestation by 2025
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The world's largest food trading companies detailed a plan on Monday to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains for soy, beef and palm oil by 2025, a step seen as essential to averting catastrophic climate change.
Destruction of forests - like the Amazon rainforest to make way for farm fields and ranches or Indonesian jungle for palm oil - emits huge amounts of greenhouse gas each year, helping to drive climate change.
The roadmap, launched at the COP27 United Nations climate summit in Egypt, comprises 14 firms including Cargill, Bunge (BG.N), Archer Daniels Midland , Louis Dreyfus Company, Brazil's JBS (JBSS3.SA) and China's COFCO International. Reuters
Update October 19, 2022
Ohne palmol or palm oil free label seen on Ovomaltine label in Malaysia.
Palm Oil Free Products in Malaysia
Consumer products with labels that include "No Palm Oil, Palm Oil Free" are considered deceptive advertising according to European and Malaysian regulations.
The latest market study conducted in Malaysia shows that many foreign brands continue to offer products with "illegal" claims. On top of violating truth in label requirements in Europe and Malaysia, European brand owners like Ovomaltine risk expulsion from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for violating RSPO Rules on Marketing Communications and Claims.
Read our commentary on palm oil free labels in Malaysia
Consumer products with labels that include "No Palm Oil, Palm Oil Free" are considered deceptive advertising according to European and Malaysian regulations.
The latest market study conducted in Malaysia shows that many foreign brands continue to offer products with "illegal" claims. On top of violating truth in label requirements in Europe and Malaysia, European brand owners like Ovomaltine risk expulsion from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for violating RSPO Rules on Marketing Communications and Claims.
Read our commentary on palm oil free labels in Malaysia
Update August, 2022
Is Iceland right to prioritise affordability over sustainability?
Iceland Supermarkets boss, Richard Walker, confesses that profits matter more than planet.
In an interview with Retail Gazette, Richard Walker was quoted as confessing that the companies pledges to be palm oil and plastic free are not realistic without profits.
“This is about survival,” he says.”If you want to have a profitable growing business, you can’t always do it sustainably.”
Retail Gazette
Update May, 2022
What if the world went palm oil free?
According to ill-informed trolls online, the world would be a better place if all palm oil plantations were to be returned to nature. A ban on palm oil or boycott of it would lead to the survival of orangutans and rainforests in Indonesia.
Numerous consumer goods manufacturers prey upon the misinformed consumer with marketing ploys as we have seen in Eurocentric companies like Selfridges which threw orangutans under the bus or the infamous Iceland Foods which is now eating its own words as the company adds palm oil to its house brands. The only thing Iceland Foods got right was that it is a miniscule user of palm oil, unlikely to create an impact on what happens to orangutans or rainforests in Indonesia.
These companies apparent impotence in making a difference on forests did not deter smallish brands like Australia's Darrel Lea which attempted an Iceland Foods marketing gimmick or Canada's Kraft Heinz's failed attempt to capture Nutella's market share with its palm oil free hazelnut spread. Based on the REUTERS report Factbox: From spreads to shampoo, palm oil is part of everyday life, surely the marketing of no palm oil or palm oil free would make a dent in forest conservation.
Which brings us back to the question of what if the world followed the actions of Iceland Foods, Darrel Lea, Selfridges, Kraft Heinz etc etc and went palm oil free? The newly deposed Sri Lankan government's decision to ban palm oil which was covered by anti palm oil conservation media, Mongabay, does not count in our considerations as Sri Lanka is now bankrupt. Iceland Foods must have noted this and decided to favour its own economic survival over its viral claims to protect rainforests.
The warnings of true conservation entities on the threats to global biodiversity in a palm oil free world where soybean farming is already responsible for more than double the deforestation of palm oil is not factored in this coverage as well.
This coverage is focused on what happens if "world" went palm oil free, Using the Eurocentric definition of "the world," Indonesia provided a good insight into a "world" where consumers live and shop in a palm oil free "world." As a crop with innumerable uses from bioenergy to essential food, the Indonesian government's decision to "ban palm oil" exports provides keen insights into how much "the world" depends on palm oil.
For this purpose, we will only share the global headline news on Indonesia's ban on palm oil exports.
May 02,2022
- “Every country will suffer”: Indonesia’s ban on palm oil exports expected to further cripple food system. Food Ingredients First
- Europe: Store shelves empty of sunflower oil. California18
- UK: Supermarkets are limiting the amount of cooking oil people can buy as the Ukraine war leads to shortages and surging prices. Business Insider
- UK: Sainsbury's issues supply warning to customers as many products could be substituted. Nottingham Post
- Korea: Prices of consumer goods rising amid surge in palm oil prices. Arirang
- S. Korea to boost monitoring of palm oil supplies over Indonesia's exports ban, Yonhap News Agency
- Indonesia Bans the Export of Palm Oil, Impacting Global Food Prices. ASEAN Briefing
- Zuraida says Malaysia can meet global palm oil demand after Indonesian export ban. The Edge Markets
- Indonesia industry body confident palm oil export ban could end in May. Reuters
- Indonesian Palm Oil Export Ban to Begin. Foreign Brief
- Indonesia starts palm oil export ban. NHK World
- How Will Indonesia’s Ban on Palm Oil Exports Affect China? YiCai Global
- INDONESIA NAVY SEIZES 2 TANKERS CARRYING PALM OIL. Agriculture
- Indonesia stuns markets as it widens ban to include CPO, refined palm oil. Reuters
- Indonesia Adds to Global Food Shock With Widened Palm Export Ban. Bloomberg
- Indonesia palm oil export ban prompts warnings over food price inflation. Global Trade Review
- Indonesia deploys navy as palm oil industry braces for export ban. Business TimesSG
- The Other Oil Crisis Will Lead to a Hungrier World. Washington Post
- Chocolate, bread, shampoo and soap to become more expensive after Indonesia’s surprise palm oil export ban. InewsUK
- Indonesian palm oil export ban places pressure on global industry supply chains. Confectionery Production
- FMCG firms worry as palm oil ban to hit margins. New Indian Express
- Cooking oil, soap shortage looms in palm export ban. Business Daily Africa
- The global supply of cooking oil is going to reel from a new export shock. Quartz
- Planned Indonesia Palm Oil Export Ban Stokes Food Price Worries, as U.S. Crop Progress Slows. Farm Policy News
- Crude palm oil excluded from Indonesia export ban. Reuters
- Indonesia palm oil export ban fuels global food inflation threat. Financial Times
- Indonesian palm oil export ban could ‘lead to unrest’ as food inflation hits Asia, Africa. SCMP
- Buyers can’t replace Indonesian palm oil shortfall. Producer
- Indonesia’s palm oil export ban sparks concern over global food prices, Guardian
- Indonesia’s move to have massive impact on global edible oils.
- China braces for ban by Indonesia on exports of palm oil. Global Times
- India. Edible oil chaos deepening fast. TBS News
- India. Edible Oil Industry Suggests Government Initiate Dialogue With Indonesia Over Palm Oil Ban. Outlook India
- Korea’s inflation in additional pressure from Indonesia’s ban on palm oil exports. Pulse News
- Indonesia's palm oil export ban leaves global buyers with no plan B. Reuters
- Cooking Oil, Food Prices Set To Spike On Indonesia's Palm Oil Export Ban. Bloomberg Quint
- UK. Cooking oil rationing is ‘temporary measure’, say supermarkets; consumer confidence plummets. Political Fiber
April 24, 2022 Headlines
- Indonesia bans palm oil exports as global food inflation spikes. Asia One
- Indonesia - Finance Minister says palm oil export ban will hurt other countries, but necessary. The Jakarta Post
- Indonesia warned palm oil export ban could backfire, say top experts. The StarMY
- Cooking-Oil Chaos Exacerbates a Looming World Hunger Crisis. Bloomberg
- Indonesia's 'local first' policy in palm oil ban to hit India. Deccan Herald
- Why Indonesia’s move to ban edible oil export is bad news for India The Hindu BusinessLine
- Nepal - Edible oil imports hit Rs100 billion. But no, Nepalis are not guzzling it. Kathmandu Post
- Korea - Palm oil ban doesn't bode well for ramyeon, snack companies. Korea JoongAng Daily
---
Update February 2021. It was inevitable that a soy report be created on this page. Soybean oil is the most common go to replacement for palm oil as a vegetable oil. CSPO Watch has refrained from exposing the problems with soy in order to keep a focus on sustainability in palm oil.
With growing global interest on the environmental impacts of soy, we introduce a new page to monitor the news on the global soy industry to separate the better producers of soy like those in the US soy industry and those from other soy producing regions. Read curated news on the soy industry with a focus on its sustainability.
Is Iceland right to prioritise affordability over sustainability?
Iceland Supermarkets boss, Richard Walker, confesses that profits matter more than planet.
In an interview with Retail Gazette, Richard Walker was quoted as confessing that the companies pledges to be palm oil and plastic free are not realistic without profits.
“This is about survival,” he says.”If you want to have a profitable growing business, you can’t always do it sustainably.”
Retail Gazette
Update May, 2022
What if the world went palm oil free?
According to ill-informed trolls online, the world would be a better place if all palm oil plantations were to be returned to nature. A ban on palm oil or boycott of it would lead to the survival of orangutans and rainforests in Indonesia.
Numerous consumer goods manufacturers prey upon the misinformed consumer with marketing ploys as we have seen in Eurocentric companies like Selfridges which threw orangutans under the bus or the infamous Iceland Foods which is now eating its own words as the company adds palm oil to its house brands. The only thing Iceland Foods got right was that it is a miniscule user of palm oil, unlikely to create an impact on what happens to orangutans or rainforests in Indonesia.
These companies apparent impotence in making a difference on forests did not deter smallish brands like Australia's Darrel Lea which attempted an Iceland Foods marketing gimmick or Canada's Kraft Heinz's failed attempt to capture Nutella's market share with its palm oil free hazelnut spread. Based on the REUTERS report Factbox: From spreads to shampoo, palm oil is part of everyday life, surely the marketing of no palm oil or palm oil free would make a dent in forest conservation.
Which brings us back to the question of what if the world followed the actions of Iceland Foods, Darrel Lea, Selfridges, Kraft Heinz etc etc and went palm oil free? The newly deposed Sri Lankan government's decision to ban palm oil which was covered by anti palm oil conservation media, Mongabay, does not count in our considerations as Sri Lanka is now bankrupt. Iceland Foods must have noted this and decided to favour its own economic survival over its viral claims to protect rainforests.
The warnings of true conservation entities on the threats to global biodiversity in a palm oil free world where soybean farming is already responsible for more than double the deforestation of palm oil is not factored in this coverage as well.
This coverage is focused on what happens if "world" went palm oil free, Using the Eurocentric definition of "the world," Indonesia provided a good insight into a "world" where consumers live and shop in a palm oil free "world." As a crop with innumerable uses from bioenergy to essential food, the Indonesian government's decision to "ban palm oil" exports provides keen insights into how much "the world" depends on palm oil.
For this purpose, we will only share the global headline news on Indonesia's ban on palm oil exports.
May 02,2022
- “Every country will suffer”: Indonesia’s ban on palm oil exports expected to further cripple food system. Food Ingredients First
- Europe: Store shelves empty of sunflower oil. California18
- UK: Supermarkets are limiting the amount of cooking oil people can buy as the Ukraine war leads to shortages and surging prices. Business Insider
- UK: Sainsbury's issues supply warning to customers as many products could be substituted. Nottingham Post
- Korea: Prices of consumer goods rising amid surge in palm oil prices. Arirang
- S. Korea to boost monitoring of palm oil supplies over Indonesia's exports ban, Yonhap News Agency
- Indonesia Bans the Export of Palm Oil, Impacting Global Food Prices. ASEAN Briefing
- Zuraida says Malaysia can meet global palm oil demand after Indonesian export ban. The Edge Markets
- Indonesia industry body confident palm oil export ban could end in May. Reuters
- Indonesian Palm Oil Export Ban to Begin. Foreign Brief
- Indonesia starts palm oil export ban. NHK World
- How Will Indonesia’s Ban on Palm Oil Exports Affect China? YiCai Global
- INDONESIA NAVY SEIZES 2 TANKERS CARRYING PALM OIL. Agriculture
- Indonesia stuns markets as it widens ban to include CPO, refined palm oil. Reuters
- Indonesia Adds to Global Food Shock With Widened Palm Export Ban. Bloomberg
- Indonesia palm oil export ban prompts warnings over food price inflation. Global Trade Review
- Indonesia deploys navy as palm oil industry braces for export ban. Business TimesSG
- The Other Oil Crisis Will Lead to a Hungrier World. Washington Post
- Chocolate, bread, shampoo and soap to become more expensive after Indonesia’s surprise palm oil export ban. InewsUK
- Indonesian palm oil export ban places pressure on global industry supply chains. Confectionery Production
- FMCG firms worry as palm oil ban to hit margins. New Indian Express
- Cooking oil, soap shortage looms in palm export ban. Business Daily Africa
- The global supply of cooking oil is going to reel from a new export shock. Quartz
- Planned Indonesia Palm Oil Export Ban Stokes Food Price Worries, as U.S. Crop Progress Slows. Farm Policy News
- Crude palm oil excluded from Indonesia export ban. Reuters
- Indonesia palm oil export ban fuels global food inflation threat. Financial Times
- Indonesian palm oil export ban could ‘lead to unrest’ as food inflation hits Asia, Africa. SCMP
- Buyers can’t replace Indonesian palm oil shortfall. Producer
- Indonesia’s palm oil export ban sparks concern over global food prices, Guardian
- Indonesia’s move to have massive impact on global edible oils.
- China braces for ban by Indonesia on exports of palm oil. Global Times
- India. Edible oil chaos deepening fast. TBS News
- India. Edible Oil Industry Suggests Government Initiate Dialogue With Indonesia Over Palm Oil Ban. Outlook India
- Korea’s inflation in additional pressure from Indonesia’s ban on palm oil exports. Pulse News
- Indonesia's palm oil export ban leaves global buyers with no plan B. Reuters
- Cooking Oil, Food Prices Set To Spike On Indonesia's Palm Oil Export Ban. Bloomberg Quint
- UK. Cooking oil rationing is ‘temporary measure’, say supermarkets; consumer confidence plummets. Political Fiber
April 24, 2022 Headlines
- Indonesia bans palm oil exports as global food inflation spikes. Asia One
- Indonesia - Finance Minister says palm oil export ban will hurt other countries, but necessary. The Jakarta Post
- Indonesia warned palm oil export ban could backfire, say top experts. The StarMY
- Cooking-Oil Chaos Exacerbates a Looming World Hunger Crisis. Bloomberg
- Indonesia's 'local first' policy in palm oil ban to hit India. Deccan Herald
- Why Indonesia’s move to ban edible oil export is bad news for India The Hindu BusinessLine
- Nepal - Edible oil imports hit Rs100 billion. But no, Nepalis are not guzzling it. Kathmandu Post
- Korea - Palm oil ban doesn't bode well for ramyeon, snack companies. Korea JoongAng Daily
---
Update February 2021. It was inevitable that a soy report be created on this page. Soybean oil is the most common go to replacement for palm oil as a vegetable oil. CSPO Watch has refrained from exposing the problems with soy in order to keep a focus on sustainability in palm oil.
With growing global interest on the environmental impacts of soy, we introduce a new page to monitor the news on the global soy industry to separate the better producers of soy like those in the US soy industry and those from other soy producing regions. Read curated news on the soy industry with a focus on its sustainability.
Over the ten years that we have monitored the palm oil industry there has been a consistent use of the "palm oil free" claim in marketing and packaging. What exactly does "palm oil free" or "no palm oil" mean?
Smart marketing has recognized that the words "palm oil free" and "no palm oil" are useful in attracting the niche shoppers who could provide the necessary air for a brand or product to survive. It is a misleading or even deceitful marketing tactic to prey upon palm oil as these brands or products hope that their consumers do not ask the most important question that should follow i.e. What did you use in place of palm oil? Can you prove that it is better for human health? With everything that we know now about the destruction of the Amazon for soy, the importance of no-till agriculture for carbon sequestration and the threat to European biodiversity from intensive pesticide use in rapeseed and sunflower plantations, can the palm oil substitute claim it is not guilty of extinctions and climate change?
These are some of the questions we will be asking of companies and brands that market themselves as palm oil free. Watch the space below to see which brands we catch using the phrase "palm oil free" and updates on their response on palm oil substitutes.
Smart marketing has recognized that the words "palm oil free" and "no palm oil" are useful in attracting the niche shoppers who could provide the necessary air for a brand or product to survive. It is a misleading or even deceitful marketing tactic to prey upon palm oil as these brands or products hope that their consumers do not ask the most important question that should follow i.e. What did you use in place of palm oil? Can you prove that it is better for human health? With everything that we know now about the destruction of the Amazon for soy, the importance of no-till agriculture for carbon sequestration and the threat to European biodiversity from intensive pesticide use in rapeseed and sunflower plantations, can the palm oil substitute claim it is not guilty of extinctions and climate change?
These are some of the questions we will be asking of companies and brands that market themselves as palm oil free. Watch the space below to see which brands we catch using the phrase "palm oil free" and updates on their response on palm oil substitutes.
Palm Oil Free Challenge
March 28, 2022
Adelaide Zoo stocks ice creams from Peters, not Golden North, despite backlash over palm oil
Adelaide Zoo has defended a decision to award a lucrative ice cream contract to an interstate manufacturer, rather than a local company that promotes its products as palm-oil free.
Ms Bensted staunchly defended the zoo's decision, saying that Streets, Golden North and Peters had all bid for the supply contract and that a rigorous tender process had been followed, in which each company had been "assessed … on a range of criteria".
"We talked about their environmental credentials and that included about sustainable palm oil but also things like single-use plastic and packaging," Ms Bensted said.
The zoo's orangutan program lead, Jodie Sheridan, said a push to boycott palm oil products globally had been launched about a decade ago, "but it didn't work".
"Boycotting didn't work because we use [palm oil] far more than we realise," she said.
"Clothes we wear, homes we live in, cars we drive will all have palm oil somewhere in those manufacturing lines.
"When a company labels themselves as palm-oil free, often they don't know about their packaging, their transport systems, manufacturing, down to the lubrication that's on machinery or product lines." ABC AU
UK supermarket Iceland Foods Supermarket reverses palm oil ban following Ukraine war
The supermarket chain will start selling a limited range of own-label products from June that contain palm oil after it banned the ingredient in 2018 in a stand against tropical deforestation.
UK food manufacturers have warned that supplies of the commodity could run out in weeks as crops are trapped in Ukraine and Russia, which together account for almost 70pc of the world’s sunflower oil.
Richard Walker, Iceland’s managing director, expressed “huge regret” about having to row back on its pledge to remove palm oil from all of its own-brand items.
He said: “The only alternative to using palm oil under the current circumstances would simply be to clear out our freezers and shelves of a wide range of staples including frozen chips and other potato products.”
He said that the move was “a last resort and a strictly temporary measure” and it would only use certified sustainable palm oil as an ingredient. Telegraph UK
Italy - SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL: A SUPPLY CHAIN TO INVEST IN
If it weren’t for the fact that it has the taste of blatant opportunism, we would say: “We told you so”. But when there is a war going on, there is no messing around with controversy. The decision of many companies in the food industry to return to palm oil, after many years of using sunflower oil, due to the supply bottleneck caused by the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, should be used as a “lesson learnt”.
Focusing on a single raw material and a single producer market, as in the case of sunflower Made in Ukraine, is diametrically opposed to industrial strategy, economic growth and sustainability. It is the same dynamic as in the energy sector: a monopoly is created, to whom processing companies are tied by a double thread; these, however, are left high and dry in any case of geopolitical crisis and financial speculation. Returning to palm oil, companies can afford to deal with multiple suppliers – some established, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, others emerging, especially in Latin America – and to handle high quality and sustainable material. Both on the environmental front and in economic and social terms. Competere EU
July 21, 2021. Barebells is Back!!
Barebells could not answer our questions from 2020 but is back with a new promotion for its new flavors!
As a backgrounder, we asked Barebells:
1. Since Barebells uses non-vegan ingredients in milk protein and collagen, are the production facilities for the Barebells Vegan Bars kept separate from the production of non-vegan products?
2. Are all your raw ingredients like cocoa certified as sustainable and free trade?
The new flavors being touted in its paid press release are Salty Peanut and Hazelnut Nougat.
The new press release is confusing especially for the eco-conscious consumer who reads labels and digs into product information.
Barebells continues to promote its products as "100% vegan and dairy free." We will check with Barebells for any updates on their manufacturing process that has changed since their response to us in July 2020.
Adelaide Zoo stocks ice creams from Peters, not Golden North, despite backlash over palm oil
Adelaide Zoo has defended a decision to award a lucrative ice cream contract to an interstate manufacturer, rather than a local company that promotes its products as palm-oil free.
Ms Bensted staunchly defended the zoo's decision, saying that Streets, Golden North and Peters had all bid for the supply contract and that a rigorous tender process had been followed, in which each company had been "assessed … on a range of criteria".
"We talked about their environmental credentials and that included about sustainable palm oil but also things like single-use plastic and packaging," Ms Bensted said.
The zoo's orangutan program lead, Jodie Sheridan, said a push to boycott palm oil products globally had been launched about a decade ago, "but it didn't work".
"Boycotting didn't work because we use [palm oil] far more than we realise," she said.
"Clothes we wear, homes we live in, cars we drive will all have palm oil somewhere in those manufacturing lines.
"When a company labels themselves as palm-oil free, often they don't know about their packaging, their transport systems, manufacturing, down to the lubrication that's on machinery or product lines." ABC AU
UK supermarket Iceland Foods Supermarket reverses palm oil ban following Ukraine war
The supermarket chain will start selling a limited range of own-label products from June that contain palm oil after it banned the ingredient in 2018 in a stand against tropical deforestation.
UK food manufacturers have warned that supplies of the commodity could run out in weeks as crops are trapped in Ukraine and Russia, which together account for almost 70pc of the world’s sunflower oil.
Richard Walker, Iceland’s managing director, expressed “huge regret” about having to row back on its pledge to remove palm oil from all of its own-brand items.
He said: “The only alternative to using palm oil under the current circumstances would simply be to clear out our freezers and shelves of a wide range of staples including frozen chips and other potato products.”
He said that the move was “a last resort and a strictly temporary measure” and it would only use certified sustainable palm oil as an ingredient. Telegraph UK
Italy - SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL: A SUPPLY CHAIN TO INVEST IN
If it weren’t for the fact that it has the taste of blatant opportunism, we would say: “We told you so”. But when there is a war going on, there is no messing around with controversy. The decision of many companies in the food industry to return to palm oil, after many years of using sunflower oil, due to the supply bottleneck caused by the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, should be used as a “lesson learnt”.
Focusing on a single raw material and a single producer market, as in the case of sunflower Made in Ukraine, is diametrically opposed to industrial strategy, economic growth and sustainability. It is the same dynamic as in the energy sector: a monopoly is created, to whom processing companies are tied by a double thread; these, however, are left high and dry in any case of geopolitical crisis and financial speculation. Returning to palm oil, companies can afford to deal with multiple suppliers – some established, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, others emerging, especially in Latin America – and to handle high quality and sustainable material. Both on the environmental front and in economic and social terms. Competere EU
July 21, 2021. Barebells is Back!!
Barebells could not answer our questions from 2020 but is back with a new promotion for its new flavors!
As a backgrounder, we asked Barebells:
1. Since Barebells uses non-vegan ingredients in milk protein and collagen, are the production facilities for the Barebells Vegan Bars kept separate from the production of non-vegan products?
2. Are all your raw ingredients like cocoa certified as sustainable and free trade?
The new flavors being touted in its paid press release are Salty Peanut and Hazelnut Nougat.
The new press release is confusing especially for the eco-conscious consumer who reads labels and digs into product information.
Barebells continues to promote its products as "100% vegan and dairy free." We will check with Barebells for any updates on their manufacturing process that has changed since their response to us in July 2020.
( July 15, 2020. Reply received from Barebells:
Our vegan protein bars are also without palm oil. There are of course measures to prevent milk contamination in production, but still we have not found a way to do this to 100 % and traces occur sporadically which makes us have the “may contain traces of milk” statement on the products.)
Our vegan protein bars are also without palm oil. There are of course measures to prevent milk contamination in production, but still we have not found a way to do this to 100 % and traces occur sporadically which makes us have the “may contain traces of milk” statement on the products.)
It is also unclear why Barebells continues to make claims to be vegan and dairy free when its new products are not.
Barebells "vegan and dairy free?" Salty Peanuts contains milk
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Barebells "100% vegan and dairy free" Hazelnut nougats may contain traces of eggs, milk
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It is quite possible that the good folks at Barebells are not entirely clear on what a "100% vegan and dairy free" product is. Milk is definitely not vegan. The possibility of trace elements of eggs and milk also challenges the claim to be 100%. A product that may contain traces of eggs and milk due to its manufacture in a factory that uses eggs and milk regularly should not be making a claim to be vegan.
July 10, 2020. Kraft has introduced a new hazelnut spread that it is being marketed heavily as "No Palm Oil." The claim is displayed prominently as a wrap around banner on its product label. The label further states in fine print that it is low in saturated fats.
Image of Kraft No Palm Oil Marketing
As seen on the Facebook page managed by the account "Kraft Peanut Butter", the No Palm Oil claim is featured in highlighted colors with the claim of being "Low in Saturated Fat" once again, in fine print.
While we are sure the legal team at Kraft has noted legal cases in Europe around "Palm Oil Free" claims and advised the addition of fine print to avoid legal challenges, the label as seen in July 2020 can be perceived as misleading.
While we are sure the legal team at Kraft has noted legal cases in Europe around "Palm Oil Free" claims and advised the addition of fine print to avoid legal challenges, the label as seen in July 2020 can be perceived as misleading.
The key problem that we see with Kraft's Hazelnut Spread label is that in its nutritional information, the data is based on 1 tablespoon or 20 grams, whereas competing products including Nutella and Nutiva have both published information based on 2 tablespoons or 37 grams. Was this an intentional act on Krafts part to declare nutritional values based on half the competition and therefore, create a perception that it is lower in saturated fats? This can be seen as misleading as other competing brands of hazelnut spread base all based their nutritional information on 37 grams. The average consumer should be provided the ability to compare new products with established ones at a quick glance.
A second problem with Krafts use of No Palm Oil is it may run afoul of labeling standards under Alarmist Claims. Stay tuned as we look further into the issues.
Updates on reaction to Kraft Heinz's No Palm Oil label
September 08, 2020 - The RSPO has confirmed that several complaints have been filed against Kraft Heinz for violation of its regulation which governs no palm oil or palm oil free marketing.
September 04, 2020 - Kraft Heinz’s No Palm Oil Marketing a Lesson for Global Brands
Kraft Heinz introduced a new hazelnut spread for its Canadian consumers in June 2020 which could turn out to be an invaluable lesson for multinational companies.
A soft introduction was launched when Kraft ran a poll on Twitter asking Kraft Peanut Butter followers whether they would prefer their hazelnut spread with or without palm oil. This was the first mistake they made. CPOPC
August 13, 2020 - The oil Palm Farmer's Union (SPKS) calls on all Indonesians to boycott products made by the subsidiary Kraft Heinz, PT Heinz ABC. "SPKS and our partners support farmers to meet the sustainability standards for palm oil but Kraft Heinz, in Indonesia operates under the name of PT Heinz ABC has demonstrated an unrespectful attitude to us," said Mansuetus Darto, secretary general of SPKS. MediaPerkebunan
August 08, 2020 - Riau, Samade – Chairman of DPP in my future sawitku ASSOCIATION (Samade), Ketaren Token, was loud and firm against Kraft Heinz who was impressed to betray sustainable palm oil.
Because, through products Kraft Hazelnut Butteryang launched in Canada some time ago, Kraft Heinz with very deliberately and striking using the words "palm oil free" in their products SAMADE
August 07, 2020 - Indonesia: The chairman of PIR Indonesia Palm Farmers Association, Setiyono, ask any Indonesian people whose lives depend on oil palm to stop consuming products from Kraft Heinz. Kraft Heinz in Canada is known for his new craft of Kraf Heinz Hazelnut in his promotion greatly accentuating "Palm Oil Free". In Indonesia Kraft Heinz produces soy sauce, syrup, canned sardine, sambal and sauces. MediaPerkebunan
August 05, 2020 - KUALA LUMPUR: The Secretariat of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) is asking American food company Kraft Heinz Company to withdraw its misguided negative campaign on palm oil and “palm oil-free” claims and discriminatory messages on the company’s products. TheEdgeMarkets
A second problem with Krafts use of No Palm Oil is it may run afoul of labeling standards under Alarmist Claims. Stay tuned as we look further into the issues.
Updates on reaction to Kraft Heinz's No Palm Oil label
September 08, 2020 - The RSPO has confirmed that several complaints have been filed against Kraft Heinz for violation of its regulation which governs no palm oil or palm oil free marketing.
September 04, 2020 - Kraft Heinz’s No Palm Oil Marketing a Lesson for Global Brands
Kraft Heinz introduced a new hazelnut spread for its Canadian consumers in June 2020 which could turn out to be an invaluable lesson for multinational companies.
A soft introduction was launched when Kraft ran a poll on Twitter asking Kraft Peanut Butter followers whether they would prefer their hazelnut spread with or without palm oil. This was the first mistake they made. CPOPC
August 13, 2020 - The oil Palm Farmer's Union (SPKS) calls on all Indonesians to boycott products made by the subsidiary Kraft Heinz, PT Heinz ABC. "SPKS and our partners support farmers to meet the sustainability standards for palm oil but Kraft Heinz, in Indonesia operates under the name of PT Heinz ABC has demonstrated an unrespectful attitude to us," said Mansuetus Darto, secretary general of SPKS. MediaPerkebunan
August 08, 2020 - Riau, Samade – Chairman of DPP in my future sawitku ASSOCIATION (Samade), Ketaren Token, was loud and firm against Kraft Heinz who was impressed to betray sustainable palm oil.
Because, through products Kraft Hazelnut Butteryang launched in Canada some time ago, Kraft Heinz with very deliberately and striking using the words "palm oil free" in their products SAMADE
August 07, 2020 - Indonesia: The chairman of PIR Indonesia Palm Farmers Association, Setiyono, ask any Indonesian people whose lives depend on oil palm to stop consuming products from Kraft Heinz. Kraft Heinz in Canada is known for his new craft of Kraf Heinz Hazelnut in his promotion greatly accentuating "Palm Oil Free". In Indonesia Kraft Heinz produces soy sauce, syrup, canned sardine, sambal and sauces. MediaPerkebunan
August 05, 2020 - KUALA LUMPUR: The Secretariat of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) is asking American food company Kraft Heinz Company to withdraw its misguided negative campaign on palm oil and “palm oil-free” claims and discriminatory messages on the company’s products. TheEdgeMarkets
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September 02, 2020. Darrel Lea, the Australian brand which manufactures chocolates and licorice announced that it has removed palm oil from its chocolates.
The move was reviewed by Eco Business with contributing statements from a spokesperson for a palm oil company who lamented the move from a certified product in palm oil, to an un-certified palm oil replacement in sunflower oil. Update October 27, 2020. RSPO terminates Darrel Lea membership Read Commentary on why orangutans should not be celebrating Darrel Lea chocolates. |
July 04, 2020 - Barebells promotes itself as "The brand that never compromises with flavor.We believe in happy eating and healthy living. That’s why we offer a whole range of protein-enriched products – all equally Barebellicious."
Its products are not 100% vegan as they include milk protein and collagen. We can only assume the collagen is from bovine sources as the FAQ page on Barebells website does not reveal their sources for ingredients. An independent review of the new vegan bars has not been great but our concern is more on sustainability and less on taste.
Our questions to Barebells will therefore be:
1. Since Barebells uses non-vegan ingredients in milk protein and collagen, are the production facilities for the Barebells Vegan Bars kept separate from the production of non-vegan products?
2. Are all your raw ingredients like cocoa certified as sustainable and free trade?
July 15, 2020. Reply received from Barebells:
Our vegan protein bars are also without palm oil. There are of course measures to prevent milk contamination in production, but still we have not found a way to do this to 100 % and traces occur sporadically which makes us have the “may contain traces of milk” statement on the products.
Regarding cocoa in our products this is not certified, but we work with big international producers that we trust in.
Have a good day!
Katarina
Konsumentkontakt
Garvargatan 9
Box 12301, 102 28 Stockholm
T +46 8 23 02 02
www.barebells.se
Its products are not 100% vegan as they include milk protein and collagen. We can only assume the collagen is from bovine sources as the FAQ page on Barebells website does not reveal their sources for ingredients. An independent review of the new vegan bars has not been great but our concern is more on sustainability and less on taste.
Our questions to Barebells will therefore be:
1. Since Barebells uses non-vegan ingredients in milk protein and collagen, are the production facilities for the Barebells Vegan Bars kept separate from the production of non-vegan products?
2. Are all your raw ingredients like cocoa certified as sustainable and free trade?
July 15, 2020. Reply received from Barebells:
Our vegan protein bars are also without palm oil. There are of course measures to prevent milk contamination in production, but still we have not found a way to do this to 100 % and traces occur sporadically which makes us have the “may contain traces of milk” statement on the products.
Regarding cocoa in our products this is not certified, but we work with big international producers that we trust in.
Have a good day!
Katarina
Konsumentkontakt
Garvargatan 9
Box 12301, 102 28 Stockholm
T +46 8 23 02 02
www.barebells.se
June 2020 - Milkadamia recently paid Livekindly to run an advertisement in the guise of a news report. The advertisement titled "THESE PALM OIL-FREE VEGAN MILK AND BUTTERS ARE SAVING RAINFORESTS" preyed on the woke campaign that being palm oil free leads to the simple equation of saving rainforests.
This is misleading advertising as simply being "palm oil free" does not mean the brand is directly responsible for saving rainforests. There are plenty of supply options for deforestation free palm oil available in Australia or the US where the Milkadamia products are now being produced. There are a few questions we would ask of Milkadamia like where their source of macadamia nuts is from now that they've outgrown their Aussie roots but to address their palm oil free claim, we will be asking Milkadamia for their source of Vitamin A Palmitate. It is commonly known that the main source of Vitamin A Palmitate is from either animal products or palm oil. Updates will be published once we hear back from Milkadamia. Our question to Milkadamia will therefore be: What is the source of your Vitamin A Palmitate? Read our opinion on why Milkadamia made a marketing mistake |
Palm oil free, palm oil substitutes, soy lecithin, canola, rapeseed, sunflower, vegetable oil, lard, cocoa, child labor
Jindilli Beverages, Milkadamia,
Barebells, Kraft Hazelnut Spread, Darrel Lea Kraft Heinz, PT HEINZ ABC, Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC)
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