Products Made With Palm Oil

The use of palm oil in manufacturing is becoming more and more widespread. Palm oil is derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree, which is grown in tropical regions as a plantation crop. Since oil is plentiful in both the pulp and the kernel of the fruit, the oil palm tree is the highest-yielding source of edible oil in the world.

Food

• Palm oil is used in food products as an alternative to oils that are high in trans fats. Palm oil is found in numerous shelf-stable foods, including cookies, cereals, crackers and microwave popcorn. While the trans-fat content of palm oil is lower than that of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, palm oil is high in saturated fat, which is linked to heart disease. When in doubt as to whether a food or drink product contains palm oil, check the ingredients on the label.

Fuel

• Palm oil is used in some types of biodiesel. Biodiesel is an alternative to fossil-based fuels; it is make from vegetable oils. As well as being used as a fuel for vehicles, palm oil can be burned in order to create electricity at power plants.

Personal Care Products

• Palm oil is used in the manufacture of a wide range of personal hygiene products. It can be found in soap, face and body lotion, shampoo, conditioner and hair spray. It's also found in shaving gels, acne treatments, lip balm, cosmetics and sunscreen.

Miscellaneous Products

• Palm oil is used in the manufacture of many other products. These include paper pulp, dyes, lamp shades, particleboard, polishes, textile finishes, hammocks, cigarette papers and upholstery stuffing.