Hi all, first time posting.
What is everyone’s thought on palm oil, I’ve been told that sustainable palm oil isn’t 100% the answer as there’s no real verification to check that it’s sustainable even when it’s “certified”. It’s really limiting when looking in the shops and everything has plan oil in or they use palm oil as a substitution for butter in confectioneries. If you like a butter margarine alterative they all have palm oil in due to it’s unique properties. Overall I’ve boycotted most products with palm oil in with to exception of my spread/butter alternative.
I know this is the veganism sub and not to sustainability one but I’m interesting in how many of you decide to make a conscious decision about palm oil consumption. Have anyone you fully boycotted all types of palm oil?
I think it’s vegan and also try to avoid it due to it being unhealty. Canola oil is cheaper, healthier and better for animals and nature, so I buy that. I don’t avoid all products with palm oil.
But all of this is out of a mix of concerns but a lack of will to fully cut it out. Idk I think you can say that in the end I don’t care very much.
It shouldn’t be produced. It’s terrible for the environment, and it’s carcinogenic. The only reason it exists is because it’s slightly cheaper to produce than other comparable oils.
Out of interest what are the other comparable oils? I know plan oil is partially selected as it’s one of the oils that stays a solid at room temperature.
there are a few, this is a good link with some details https://www.greenmatters.com/p/palm-oil-alternatives
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decent cheap vegan oils
Olive oil and canola is what I use for everything. Why wouldn’t u use these?
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Thanks for the answers, I didn’t expect to hear about the health concerns (but I guess I should have expect that as for some people that’s a major part of being vegan). I use rapeseed (canola) oil as my main oil substitute. I just find it annoying that in most premade food in the supermarket, at least here in the UK, has palm oil in. Seems really difficult to avoid.
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Just to throw another layer into the mix - Considering the distance a food has to travel to get to you is also important. Specifically, is the plant grown where you live and is the processing facility relatively close. For me this isn’t my primary decider but it can break a tie. Depending on your reasons for eating vegan it might rise to the top of your priority list.
Sunflower oil, peanut oil and grapeseed oil are apparently better alternatives, which have slowly become forgotten with the proliferation of canola oil.
Also, the strange thing is that palm oil is found in processed food, but not as “standalone” oil (I’m thinking that people would boycott it anyway). However, it’s harder to avoid food that already has palm oil thrown into the mix.
It’s appalling that environmental campaigns against palm oil have shown close to no effect to the industry.
I think people in the US just aren’t used to cooking with palm oil, especially unrefined palm oil (red palm oil). It has a taste and texture that isn’t really replicated by anything else.
