Think palm oil, think deforestation. Think palm oil, think health implications. The media has disseminated such simplified messaging around palm oil for years. There have been numerous calls to action to boycott palm oil, and “no palm” labeled products are finding their way onto grocery store shelves.
We need to reconsider the use of palm oil. Not only because palm oil is in high demand as a functional ingredient in a broad range of consumer products. In fact, palm oil is used in half of all food and personal care products we consume. We also need to reconsider palm oil looking at current global production and supply dynamics. Demand for vegetable oils will increase further between now and 2050, while at the same time vegetable oil production and supply are in flux due to climate change and geopolitical turmoil.
