Whether to boycott palm oil is complex: boycotts can shift demand to other oils that require more land, worsening deforestation, while sustainable palm oil offers a way to support responsible production that yields more oil per land area, but the industry still faces issues like deforestation and labor exploitation. Many experts suggest that instead of boycotting, consumers should support certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) to encourage better practices, as palm oil is highly efficient, but individuals can also reduce overall consumption by cooking fresh meals and avoiding processed foods with palm oil.
Palm oil is by far, the highest yield crop for oil. Boycotting it will only drive the demand of other sources of oil that require more land therefore leading to greater deforestation and wild animal displacement. The solution is not boycott, ot is to lower human's overconsumption.
As far as oil production goes palm is only considered bad because there is so much of it. Compared to others, it's more efficient and environmentally friendly to produce. So IF you're going to consume oil, palm would be the best.
Boycotting palm oil products will (even if imperceptibly) move the balance against palm oil. That might result in less palm oil plantations, or higher palm oil subsidies, depending on factors outside of our control, and will certainly result in more deforestation for alternative crops.
The problem with palm oil is that it has also been a major driver of tropical deforestation. The amount of land occupied by palm oil plantations has increased almost nine-fold over the past 50 years, from 3.3 million hectares in 1970 to 28.7 million hectares in 2020.
McDonald's leads in palm oil use but not in commitments
Despite signing on to the non-binding New York Declaration on Forests in September reiterating the global importance of forests, McDonald's palm oil policies do not protect forests.
100% certified sustainable palm oil
Odourless and neutral in taste, the palm oil we use ensures the smooth texture of our recipe and heightens the flavour and aroma of all the other ingredients in Nutella®. Palm oil is the ingredient that ensures the smooth, creamy texture and unique stability of the Nutella® recipe.
All of ALDI's exclusively branded products containing palm (kernel) oil adhere to strict standards of responsible production as set by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The aim of sustainable palm oil is to protect animals, the environment and the people who live and work in palm-oil producing countries.
University of Bath scientists recently showed in Nature Sustainability that banning palm oil could drive greater rates of deforestation, by switching demand to less efficient edible oils like sunflower or rapeseed which use more land, water and fertiliser.
When taken by mouth: Palm oil is commonly consumed in foods. But palm oil contains a type of fat that can increase cholesterol levels. So people should avoid eating palm oil in excess. Palm oil is possibly safe when used as a medicine, short-term.
Unibic Swaadesi Jeera Bakery Biscuits - No Maida, No Palm Oil I Bakery Biscuits I 225 gm.
The Worst Foods with Palm Oil
To avoid palm oil, choose products that contain clearly labeled oils, such as 100 percent sunflower oil, corn oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or canola oil.
In the US, Cadbury Dairy Milk does NOT contain #PalmOil… but in the UK, Ireland & South Africa, it does.
You likely consumed palm oil today without knowing it
Most baby formulas, laundry detergents, chocolate bars, toothpastes and shampoos contain palm oil. It can even be found in products as seemingly "additive-free" as cow's milk.
The oils which should be avoided for cooking are oils like soybean, corn, canola, sunflower, and safflower. These oils have unstable fats and will decimate the nutritional properties of your food.
In terms of health benefits, canola oil is healthier than palm oil as it is higher in vitamin K, vitamin E, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Moreover, canola oil is lower in saturated fats (considered unhealthy fats).
Most canola is chemically extracted using a solvent called hexane, and heat is often applied which can affect the stability of the oil's molecules, turn it rancid, destroy the omega-3s in it, and can even create trans fats.
Colgate uses palm oil, palm kernel oil and palm oil derivatives in some of our soap products, toothpastes, antiperspirants, deodorants, and household cleaners.
The Aldi £13 rule refers to the UK supermarket's decision, effective September 2025, to pay its store assistants a minimum of £13 per hour (rising to £13.02 nationally and £14.33 within the M25), making it the first UK supermarket to reach this rate, with further increases for length of service, plus providing paid breaks.
The company has been widely criticized for using palm oil in products, which continues to fuel the demand for palm oil plantations. In 2015, France's minister of the environment made a bold statement, declaring that consumers should stop eating Nutella if they want to help save the rainforest.
The palm oil in Ferrero products comes from a certified 'segregated' supply chain. It is sourced from different certified plantations and is kept separate from ordinary palm oil throughout the supply chain.
Palm oil has been scientifically shown to protect the heart and blood vessels from plaques and ischemic injuries. Palm oil consumed as a dietary fat as a part of a healthy balanced diet does not have incremental risk for cardiovascular disease.