Palm oil is controversial, but how unhealthy is it really?

Palm oil is found in about 60 percent of food products. This oil is condemned for two reasons: it is said to be unhealthy and bad for the environment. How much of this is true?

Palm oil is a vegetable oil derived from the fruits of the oil palm. It is widely used in processed foods, such as cookies, ketchup, margarine and snacks, because it is cheap and has a long shelf life. The oil itself has no taste of its own.

Belgian GP Staf Hendrickx previously spoke to Metro about palm oil in a conversation about ultra-processed foods and the pathogenic food industry. “Palm oil production is skyrocketing, but it is an unhealthy saturated fatty acid that involves all kinds of chemical processes, such as bleaching and thickening. And yes, that is unhealthy. Palm oil is found in almost everything you consume these days,” the GP said.

According to the Nutrition Center, palm oil contains more saturated fat than other types of oil. Saturated fat is known for its adverse health effects. For example, it increases LDL cholesterol and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease .

Due to the amount of saturated fat, palm oil is not included in the Wheel of Five. However, a food product with this oil can be included in the Wheel of Five. This depends on the type of food and the amount of palm oil it contains. In short: palm oil fits into a varied diet in small amounts, but it is good to limit products with palm oil that are not included in the Wheel of Five.

The criticism that palm oil is bad for the environment is also often heard. However, this is more nuanced. Heske Verburg, director of Solidaridad, said yesterday on NPO Radio 1 that it is indeed true that forests have to be cut down for it and that it has negative consequences for biodiversity. But: "It is an incredibly productive and efficient crop." She explained: "40 percent of all oil used worldwide is palm oil and it is produced on 6 percent of the available agricultural land. So, compared to other oils, it is an incredibly efficient crop with a much smaller footprint."

The Nutrition Centre also mentions efficiency. “The problem surrounding deforestation is not caused by the palm oil itself. It is more due to the high demand for vegetable oils in products such as make-up, cookies and snacks. The positive side of palm oil is namely the high yield per hectare compared to other types of oil. That is why switching to other (tropical) oils is not necessarily a solution.”