What is palm oil?
Palm oil is a vegetable fat obtained from the fruit of the African oil palm tree. Palm oil contains a high proportion of saturated fat. This is unusual as most vegetable fats do not contain high proportions of saturated fats; however there are exceptions such as palm oil and coconut oil.
The Dietary Guidelines for Australians and the New Zealand Food and Nutrition Guidelines, recommend that we limit our intake of saturated fats.
What are the current regulations for labelling palm oil?
There have been calls for palm oil to be identified in the ingredient list due to health as well as environmental concerns.
Under current regulations palm oil can be labelled in the ingredient list using the generic terms 'vegetable oil' or by identifying the source of the oil, for example, as 'palm oil'.
Regulations do however require the declaration of certain nutrients in the nutrition information panel on food labels, including saturated fat. The total amount of saturated fat from all the ingredients in a food (including palm oil if it is used) must be declared. Using the nutrition information panel can help consumers make healthier food choices.
FSANZ has previously rejected an application for mandatory ingredient labelling of palm oil when used in food products because the application was about environmental concerns.
Read the rejection document for information about why the application was rejected.
What are food manufacturers doing about palm oil?
Some food manufacturers are voluntarily labelling palm oil in the ingredient list of their food. Food manufacturers can also use sustainably sourced palm oil. Some companies are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, which promotes the supply of palm oil sourced from eco‑friendly areas.
You can also check with manufacturers about what type of oil they use.
Is the Government looking at this issue?
In January 2011, an independent Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy presented 61 recommendations to food regulation ministers for action. Under recommendation 12, the review panel recommended changes to the way that added sugars, added fats and added vegetable oils, including palm oil, are declared in the ingredient list.
In December 2011, ministers endorsed a whole of government response and asked FSANZ to provide technical evaluation and advice on recommendation 12, to help ministers consider the expected benefits and possible effects before considering any changes to the Food Standards Code.
This comprehensive body of work has now been completed and considered by ministers. Read FSANZ's report to ministers and their response.