5 Facts About Palm Oil

Palm oil is one of the most widely used vegetable oil. However, there are many myths regarding palm oil in Malaysia due to poor knowledge.

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Some of the questions we should ask include:

• Are rain forests being cleared for oil palm planting?

• Are endangered wildlife species being decimated due to habitat destruction?

• Are human rights being violated?

• Is consumption of palm oil bad?

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Here are 5 facts regarding palm oil:

1. In Malaysia, palm oil plantations are mainly being established on old agricultural land or previously logged-over forest land. The planting practices with environmental concerns are reaching for even more stringent standards of sustainability.

2.  The palm oil industry drives economy growth. It creates jobs for the poorest people including native populations and brings in revenue for national development as well as stability.

3. Palm oil and its derived products are being channelled into worldwide industrial and commercial activities which include products such as cosmetics, toiletries, cleaning agents, candles and so on.

4. Palm oil consumption has a recorded history of over 5,000 years. Today it feeds 3 billion people in 150 countries, contributing to global food security as well as curbing nutrition deficiency and heart disease.

5. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) have endorsed palm oil as meeting food standards under Codex Alimentarius Commission Programme. Palm oil is a well balanced vegetable oil and good source of energy. It is free of death inducing cholesterol as well as trans fatty acids. It is packed with healthy ingredients such as carotenoids and Vitamin E.