Responsibly Sourced Palm Oil

Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil that comes from the fruit of oil palm trees. It is extracted by pressing the fruit and then often refined for use in food products. "Responsibly sourced" indicates that the oil was produced with environmental and social sustainability in mind.

Manufacturers use palm oil in many processed foods because it is stable at high temperatures and has a long shelf life. It helps create desirable textures in products like baked goods, ice cream, and spreads, and can act as a natural preservative.

Palm oil is a common food ingredient and is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for its intended uses in food. It is high in saturated fat, but also contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, as well as vitamin E. Scientific evidence regarding its specific health effects compared to other fats is mixed. The primary controversy surrounding palm oil relates to the environmental and social impacts of its production, such as deforestation and habitat loss, which "responsibly sourced" efforts aim to address.