Annalise Draws for Greenpeace
We should give up palm oil, because if our orange cousins are in danger of going extinct. Many orangutans are injured or killed (protecting their babies, who also are sometimes killed). In order to chop down forests, so industry can buy cheap fat to put in junk food or bars of soap.
Aware that people are concerned of the issues, most companies these days either quote the ‘Round Table on Sustainable Oil’ (which has no legal protection – Greenpeace writes that products with ‘sustainable palm oil’ often involve orangutans still being killed, through burned forests). The only guarantee of welfare is certified organic palm oil, but at rates of western consumption, there is not enough land.
If you eat processed food, look for companies that carry the Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark. Just ensure that if companies are using coconut oil instead, that it is not harvested by monkey slaves (terrified apes are sent up trees and not even given any coconut afterwards). Two better options are to use local rapeseed oil, use oil-free baking/cooking. Or simply make your own meals.
- Look for crackers free from palm oil. Seggiano Grissini are good.
- Chip shops can order wholesale rapeseed oil to avoid palm oil. If you cook chips at home, throw out the fire-hazard chip fat fryer, and use a safer air-fryer instead.
- Find a real baker. If shopping in supermarkets, two palm-oil free breads are are Cranks Whole Lotta Organic and Biona Organic. Or bake your own bread (keep bread dough away from pets).
- Choose organic palm-oil-free brands of nut/seed butters. Good ones are Meridian Peanut Butter and Biona (avoid nut/seed butters for young children). If your dog likes it, save peanut butter for dog biscuits, it’s too rich alone).
- Choose vegan butters with no palm oil (don’t give to pets/children as they contain nuts and pet-toxic ingredients).
Choose Palm-Oil-Free Soaps
Nearly all supermarket/chemist soaps contain palm oil or beef fat (sodium palmate or sodium tallowate). Instead, use soaps by Organik Orangutan – not only are they free from palm oil, but profits help to save our orange furry friends.