YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health Winter 2019 | Page 15

MARNIE NITSCHKE, APD
Marnie is an Accredited Practising Dietitian at
www.n4foodandhealth.com. She also works in clinical
nutrition at Epworth Healthcare, and consults in private
practice at Everyday Nutrition in Glen Iris. Learn more
at www.everydaynutrition.com.au
MARIA ABADILLA
Maria is the Chairperson of the Orangutan Alliance and an
expert in responsible sourcing. For more information about
Orangutan Alliance and sustainable palm oil visit
www.orangutanalliance.org
UNDERSTANDING THE
IMPACT OF PALM OIL
Explore the nutritional and environmental concerns around this widely used plant oil.
alm oil has received a lot of negative press of late so
Marnie Nitschke, Accredited Practising Dietitian,
examined the facts around palm oil and its health
implications. In doing so, Marnie talked to Maria Abadilla - an
expert in responsible sourcing and Chairperson of the
Orangutan Alliance - about how consumers can make informed
choices to protect our planet from the damaging effects of
unsustainable palm oil production.
P
The facts about palm oil
Palm oil is derived from the kernel of palm trees. Being a plant-
derived oil, one would expect it to be largely unsaturated – and
therefore a healthy fat. But surprisingly, palm oil is actually high
in saturated fat, which we know is linked with raised LDL
cholesterol (the ‘bad’ one) and cardiovascular disease.
Being cheap to produce and solid in texture, palm oil is a
favourite of the food industry, particularly for chocolate,
confectionery and baked items like pastries, cakes, breads,
biscuits and crackers. You’ll also find it in a wide range of
supermarket items from ice cream to toothpaste to shampoo.
Indonesia and Malaysia are the leading exporters of palm oil,
and with such a huge worldwide demand for this ingredient, its
production has had devastating effects on the environments
where it is grown and manufactured. Concerns include
deforestation (and the consequential wildlife displacement),
greenhouse gas emissions, climate change and human rights
violations. It is estimated that over 90% of the world’s palm oil
is currently from unsustainable sources.
To help make a difference, Maria suggests
you do the following:
} } Become familiar with commonly used
names for palm oil, and avoid products
using unsustainable palm oil (such as the
vague ‘vegetable oil’ on an ingredient list,
‘glycerin’ or ‘palmitate’).
} } Choose products that bear the
‘Orangutan Alliance Palm Oil Free’ logo.
} } Download and use apps such as the ‘Palm Oil
Scanner’ app.
} } Support petitions asking for mandatory labelling of
products.
} } Donate to groups supporting forest and wildlife protection,
or write to manufacturers expressing your concern.
The non-sustainable palm oil issue is an urgent reminder that if we
don’t change the way we consume, it’s going
to have an impact not just on endangered
species, but even on our own survival.
This is why organisations like the
Orangutan Alliance continue to lobby
for mandatory labelling of palm oil
on products in Australia and
innovation for alternatives’
said Ms Abadilla.
What can you do to help?
Unfortunately, the current Australian food labelling system
makes it difficult to recognise palm oil in products, as there
is no mandatory labelling of this oil. In fact, there are over
200 names that can be used to identify it, based on what it
is mixed with. To protect the environment, its ecosystems
and to allow us to make informed choices, we need this
legislation to change.
WINTER 2019 YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE
15