In our quest to be healthier, create a sustainable global economy and be "greener," sometimes even the most mundane items can become questionable. Palm oil, a staple food of African and South Asian countries, is one such item. While it has been in commercial use for at least 150 years, it has also recently been criticized for its health effects and concerns over the industry behind its production.
What is Palm Oil?
Palm Oil is derived from the fruit pulp of the oil palm tree, Elaeis guineensis. Palm oil should not be confused with another oil, palm kernel oil, which comes from the seeds of the same fruit but not the pulp.
Oil palms are native to West Africa, where this popular cooking oil continues to be used and exported. Palm oil is naturally reddish-brown, due to its high carotene content. However, processing has also made it possible to bleach and deodorize it. Widely used in West Africa, the oil has also become a major part of the cuisine in Malaysia and also countries in the West. A highly stable oil, it does not break down as easily as other oils when heated.
Palm Oil and Nutrition
Palm oil is naturally high in carotenes (vitamin A), and is also a source of vitamin K and vitamin E. Unrefined palm oil is higher in nutrients than the refined version.
However, palm oil has also been targeted for its saturated fat content. Along with coconut oil and cocoa butter, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute associates palm oil with a higher risk of heart disease, if taken in large amounts.
Palm Oil as Biofuel
Palm oil can also be converted into biofuel for use as a replacement for the less eco-friendly petroleum-based fossil fuels. According to malaysiapalmoil.org, a website promoting the use and production of palm oil from Malaysia, "Palm oil is the only product able to sustainability and efficiently meet a large portion of the world's increasing demand for oil crop-based consumer goods, foodstuffs and biofuel."
However, much criticism has been levied at the production of palm oil for biofuel. While it may be a good alternative fuel source, the carbon output and rainforest destruction associated with building biofuel plants in Malaysia led The Guardian, a United Kingdom publication, to point out in 2007 that the drive to produce palm oil as biofuel would lead to the obliteration of 98 percent of rainforests in Malaysia and Indonesia by 2022.
Palm Oil and the Economy
The palm oil industry has been shown to revive the lagging economies in Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as countries in West Africa. However, the increased push for palm oil as biofuel has triggered concern over potential food price inflation. In March 2008, according to the BBC, the United Nations sent out warnings that food prices were set to increase due to increased demand for food crops used to produce biofuel.
Other Products Containing Palm Oil
Palm oil s a common ingredient in many products. This oil has been used in the manufacture of soaps, cosmetics, mouthwash, disinfectants, laundry detergents and vitamins.
Tags: West Africa, countries West, fruit pulp, palm biofuel, Palm naturally, Palm Palm, production palm