WHAT WE ARE NOT TOLD ABOUT PALM OIL

Salomi Simon

Malaysia is one of the largest producers and exporters of palm oil in the world. About 90
percent of the worlds palm oil is currently being produced in Malaysia and Indonesia.
(Rainforest Rescue, 2013). The palm oil industry is a significant contributor to Malaysias
economy by providing both employment and income from exports. According to a Malaysian
Palm Oil Counsel (MPOC, 2013), the sector was fourth largest contributor to the Malaysian
economy, accounting for RM53 billion of Malaysias Gross National Income (GNI) in
2011.Apart from that, the palm oil industry employs more than 600 000 people, including highskilled and low-skilled labour. Additionally, under 1Malaysia Biomass Alternative Strategy
(1MBAS) initiatives the country expected to create more than 66,000 new jobs and increase the
industrys contribution to Malaysias GNI by RM 30 billion.
Palm oil is consumed worldwide as cooking oils, and as constituents of margarine and
shortening and these oils are also incorporated into fat blends used in the manufacture of a
variety of food products as well as in home food preparation. It has the highest yield of any oil
crop and is the cheapest vegetable oil to produce and refine. Its properties make it highly
versatile in the food and chemical industries. Palm oil is contained in thousands of supermarket
products. More than 90 percent of the palm oil produced is used to manufacture food products,
cosmetics, detergents and candles. And with 54 million tons in 2011, it is regarded the most
widely produced vegetable oil worldwide (Rainforest Rescue, 2013).
It seems on the surface that palm oil is a super product that provides a win-win for
everyone, manufacturers and consumers alike. A leading Australian consumer activist body
Choice stated in its magazine that: Its versatile, keeps products on the shelf for longer, its
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cheap and the crop grows quickly. So its no surprise that palm oil is an appealing ingredient to
manufacturers of consumer goods, both edible and non-edible (Dalley, 2013, p. 20). However,
this surface appearance hides some deep and disturbing issues that receive very little attention
here in Malaysia and elsewhere.
It has been claimed in the Choice article that despite these many favourable traits, there
is a dark side to palm oil (Dalley, 2013, p. 20). The dark side involves environmental damage
and damage to consumers health. Taking environmental damage first, only 14% of the oil
produced globally is certified through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. The United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, 2007) has indicated that palm oil plantations are
currently the leading cause of rainforest destruction. This gives rise to numerous problems
particularly, for the climate and environment since oil palms need a rainforest climate that has
constantly high humidity and temperatures. For this reason, the plantations are often established
at the expense of rainforests.
The trees are cut down and removed in preparing the rainforest land for an oil palm
plantation. What remains is cleared by burning. It directly results in an increase of CO2
emissions which become a significant contributor to climate change. Additionally, rainforests are
among the world's most species-rich environments and home to numerous endangered plants and
animals. The destruction of natural habitats deprives the animals of the basis for their existence,
causing an irreversible loss of biological diversity as well. The loss of many plants could
potentially deprive Malaysia of many future sources of medical breakthroughs and products.
Palm oil also damages the consumers health. Choice reports that palm oil has a saturated
fat content of 51%, and the health implications are just as dreadful when compared with other
vegetable oils, such as canola (7.6%), sunflower (11.2%) and olive (16%). (Dalley, 2013, p.
20).Besides, American Institute for Cancer Research has reported that saturated fat affects not
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only cholesterol, but can also raise the risk of cancer and diabetes. The research emphasized that
too much saturated fat is problematic, even if cholesterol is not high. This is because of its
possible effects upon insulin functions, potentially raising the risk of diabetes, cancer, ovarian
disorders and other health problems. (NBCNews, 2013).
Moreover, palm oil contains fatty acid esters (3-MCPD and glycidol fatty acid esters) that
are considered carcinogenic. Concentrations of such hazardous substances are especially high in
refined palm oil, an ingredient in infant milk formula. Popular hazelnut chocolate and chocolate
spreads also tend to contain a lot of palm oil. Children are especially vulnerable in this regard
because of their low body weight in relation to the quantity of harmful substances they consume.
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BFR) has issue a warning against consuming
the substances contained in palm oil. (Rainforest Rescue, 2013).
On the other hand, almost every Malaysian research study on palm oil has disagreed with
this criticism and strongly supports palm oil as a safe and nutritious source of edible oil for
healthy humans over thousands of years. Some Malaysian nutrition facts indicate that palm oil
like other vegetable oils are cholesterol free and have moderate levels of saturation. (MPOPC
Health, Nutrition and Palm oil)
So what are we supposed to make of all this contradictory information? Well firstly, a
consumer has the right to be informed. So, manufacturers must give and provide all the facts
needed about products to enable consumers to make an informed choice and to be protected
against dishonest or misleading advertising and labelling. It is vital that consumers have accurate
labelling on products in order to make decisions before purchase and consuming the products. It
is important to clearly and specifically label a product, rather than leave it up to the customer to
decipher fat levels on the nutritional panel (Dalley, 2013, p. 20).
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On the other hand we have the manufacturers and workers in the palm oil industry who
rely on the industry thriving in order to generate profits to pay salaries and costs. They use the
media to promote the benefits of the industry and the product. Yet, the consumers and everyone
in Malaysia are affected by the quality of the environment and have the right to the full facts.
Ignorance in this case is not bliss but could be far more dangerous. Where is the middle way?
Let me suggest that rather than hiding the negative facts, by bringing them into the light,
they provide a challenge to all to modify their impact. This way the industry and interested
groups involved in consumer protection and environmental protection can work together on
solutions that will maintain a viable industry while reducing the harmful effects on both the
environment and the health of Malaysians. When challenged Malaysia has been shown that as a
country Malaysia Boleh!

REFERENCES

Dalley, E. (2013). Palm it off. Choice, (May), 20-21.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2013). Fifth Assessment Report. Retrieved
1 October 2013 from http://www.ipcc.ch/
Malaysian Palm Oil Counsel (MPOC, 2013). The Oil Palm. Retrieved 1 October 2013 from
http://theoilpalm.org/home/
National Broadcasting Commission News (NBCNews)(2013). More reasons to cut back on
saturated fats. Retrieved 1 October 2013 from
(http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12867692/ns/health-fitness/t/more-reasons-cut-backsaturated-fats/#.UkN1MtJ01A5)
Rainforest Rescue (2013). The Facts about Palm Oil and Rainforest. Retrieved 1 October from
Retrieved 1 October from http://www.rainforest-rescue.org/topics/palm-oil
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2007).UNEP 2007 Annual Report. Retrieved
1 October 2013 from http://www.unep.org/publications/contents/Annual_Reports.asp