How to Search for Palm Oil on Labels

Author: Amber Partington

Do you sometimes ask yourself -
Do some of my favourite products contain Palm Oil?

What's a quick way to tell if a product contains Palm Oil?

As Palm Oil can be listed in so many ways a lot of mystery and confusion surrounds whether or not a product has Palm Oil in it.

Let me help you!
 

Please use the following as a quick guide to help you choose “palm oil free” products!

1. Read the ingredients list on a product and look for “Vegetable Oil!”

Currently Australian Laws do not stipulate Palm Oil to be listed, so it is referred to as Vegetable Oil. If a product does not disclose a particular oil, such as Peanut Oil, Sunflower Oil etc. then (I would go as far as to say 99%!) it is probably Palm Oil.

2. Read the Nutritional Information table on a food product and look for “Saturated Fats!”

Palm Oil is a saturated fat, so if a product lists Vegetable Oil and contains Saturated Fats in the Nutritional Information Table – then again you can 99% assume it would be Palm Oil.

3. Get to know – “Sodium Laureth / Lauryl Sulphate!”

These are Palm Oil in two of its chemical forms and is in a lot of household products like Shampoo. These chemicals can also be Coconut Oil derived so it is always best to confirm with the company who makes the product.

*Please Note: Please use this as a guide only, to 100% confirm that a product has Palm Oil or Palm Oil derivatives in it – I always email the company who makes the product to find out. ☺