the demon palm oil

The damaging nature of palm oil is most often attributed to its source and impact on the environment. Most widely publicised is the plight of orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra. TV programmes have helped raise this issue and further reading is available from Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/oil_for_ape_summary.pdf).

As a result, more companies are switching to sustainable sources of palm oil and are rightfully keen to differentiate themselves. Both Simpsons Bakery and Nairns are using organic palm oil that is claimed to come from ecologically sustainable sources. Nairn's supplier is even one of the founding members of Roundtable for the Production of Sustainable Palm Oil (http://www.rspo.org/). This can at least allay some of our fears.

There are however more direct consequences of consuming palm oil and that is its effect on the body. Producers are often keen to cite that it is free of trans-fatty acids, which indeed it is: trans-fatty acids have been used widely in processed foods, have detrimental affects on health, and are best avoided. What producers however omit to tell you is that palm oil is a saturated fat, also known to poor for one's health.

The World Health Organisation’s recent report states that it is a contributory factor in increasing risk of heart disease due to it being high in saturated fats (http://www.who.int/hpr/NPH/docs/who_fao_expert_report.pdf). A source even closer to home, the NHSDirect Health Encyclopedia states it in even plainer English: 'You should avoid food containing saturated fats because these will increase the levels of bad cholestrol in your blood.' This advice is given clearly across encyclopedia entries for the prevention of stroke, high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis.

Palm oil, whether organic or sustainable, both or neither, is used in many processed baked goods: it is relatively cheap and contributes to products having a longer shelf life. Anyone attempting a wheat-free diet and has read the labels will know that to get a product that has one without the other is a boon. When I manage to track down any of these highly-desirable and rare-breed products I will be sure to share these with you.