Palm Oil

Palm Oil is used both as a cooking oil and a biofuel. It was once considered a top prospect as a fossil fuel alternative, but has since garnered criticism from environmentalists, citing negative ecological effects.

Palm oil is produced from the fruit of a series of trees known as the Oil Palm.

Fast Facts

1. A source of beta carotene and Vitamine E
2. A source of antioxidants
3. Contains squalene, often used in cosmetics.
4. At first viewed as a viable alternative fule, palm oil production has led to wide deforestation in Southeast Asia

Food Uses and Controversy

One of the world's cheaper vegetable oils, palm oil is often used in cooking as a product low in trans fat. More refined palm oil does not have many of the healthy minerals found in red palm oil, including beta carotene, Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Though palm oil has been compared to olive oil based on its high oleic acid content, the World Health Organization reports that palm oil consumption increases the risk of heart disease based on its density of saturated fatty acids.

Other Uses and Controversy

Southeast Asia was one of the primary producers and utilizers of palm oil in the early years of the 21st century. Scientists later began to criticize palm oil production for Asian deforestation and chemical fertilizer use. The emissions used to produce the oil, conservation and environmental groups say, have vastly increased carbon emissions and are responsible for actively promoting global climate change.

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