The facts about Palm Oil - and why stopping using it is not the answer!

January 1, 2019 Robert Fernandes

In recent times a lot has written about how bad Palm Oil is, but the truth is that a significant amount of work has been going on by Trade Organisations and Governments to assist farmers, growers, producers and processors to achieve a product which comes from a certified sustainable source. Most recently, Chester Zoo have come out in favour of the continued use of Palm Oil which is sustainable and not to switch to alternative vegetable oils as this would send the problem elsewhere and could have more serious environmental impacts due to more land being required.

V.A. Whitley purchases all of its Palm Oil from refiners who are able to supply certified palm oil and as part of The Q Partnership, the companies are members of the RSPO (Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil) and supports the UK Governments aim of achieving 100% sustainable palm oil by 2020.

When you buy Palm Oil that is certified ‘Sustainable Palm Oil’ you can be confident that you can tell your customers that you are frying in palm oil that is helping ensure the protection of the rainforest, the habitats of many species including the orangutans. Importantly, you are safe guarding children and communities involved in the production of palm oil, giving them a better future.

Palm Oil 1

WHAT IS PALM OIL?...

Palm Oil comes from the fruit and the seed of the oil palm plant.

Palm Oil is the world’s most commonly used vegetable oil.

Palm Oil can be found in over 50% of products on supermarket shelves.

DID YOU KNOW…

1. Palm yields 6 times more oil per hectare than any other oil bearing plant. The oil palm produces 3.8 tonnes of oil per hectare, compared with rapeseed (0.8 Tonnes), sunflower (0.7 Tonnes) and soya (0.5 Tonnes).

2. Palm Oil is a highly versatile ingredient due to its neutral smell and taste, long shelf life and excellent cooking properties.

3. Global demand for vegetable oil is rapidly increasing. Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world. Palm contributes 38.7% of the total vegetable oil production from only 6.6% of the total land area used!

4. Currently 61% of the World’s palm oil is used for biofuel, power and heat with just 39% used for food, animal feed and chemical products. With a growing number of European countries deciding to ban the use of palm for biofuels, power and heat over the next few years there will be a greater opportunity to promote sustainable production.

5. Palm oil is native to West Africa, but is now commercially cultivated mainly across Asia and Africa.

6. 90% of the world’s palm oil is produced in Malaysia and Indonesia, where 4.5 million people earn their living from the crop.

7. The U.K. consumes just 0.6% of the World’s annual production of palm oil and in 2010 only 16% of that was ‘sustainable’. In just 8 years this has grown to nearly 80%.

Choose from these RSPO Certified Frying Fats...

FriWite (SG) BMT-RSPO-000727

FriWite fries pure and light in colour. Provides an extended frying life. No hydrogenated fat. Less than 1% trans-fat. 100% palm oil.

Code Ref: FA79

Quantity: 12.5kg Box

2 Save & Select Points

Great free point of sale material available

Q Palm (SG) BMT-RSPO-000727

Q Palm is a superb quality, all vegetable frying fat, low in trans fatty acids. Gives fish friers a value for money, consistent, high quality frying product.

Code Ref: FA34

Quantity: 12.5kg Box

2 Save & Select Points

Great free poster available

Q Gold (SG) BMT-RSPO-000727

Q Gold is a naturally coloured high quality palm oil. It is virtually free of trans fat and has no hydrogenated fat.

Code Ref: FA52

Quantity: 2x 5kg Box

2 Save & Select Points

Great free poster available

Dri-Fri, Dri-Fri Gold, Superfry Plus and Fresh Fri are all purchased from suppliers that only produce from certified Sustainable Palm Oil and are founder members of the RSPO Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.