Italy is the first country to stand out for phasing out palm among food ingredients. It was the second largest importer in Europe until a few years ago, but the reality has now changed. Let’s see why, how and with what reactions.
The writer first exposed the vicious link between the expansion of oil palm cultivation, land robbery (so-called ‘land grabbing’) and deforestation, in Food Fact, starting in 2010. In 2014, our website Great Italian Food Trade, together with Fatto Alimentare, launched the first petition to exclude the use of this tropical fat in food production. Collecting over 176 thousand signatures, and most importantly widespread awareness among Italian consumers who have begun to favor ‘palm-free’ foods.
TheMay 3, 2016 scientific assessment of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). then highlighted the dangers associated with the presence-in refined palm for industrial use, in quantities 6-10 times higher than in other vegetable oils-of genotoxic and carcinogenic process contaminants (GE, 2,3 MCPD). In addition to the already known risks from saturated fat and palmitic acid intakes.
On this site we have also published the so-called ‘Palm-leaks,’ where it is shown how ‘Big Food’ was aware of the public health dangers of the aforementioned contaminants. It also denounced the culpable inaction-which still continues-in the instead dutiful management of food safety risk, on the part of the European Commission and member states.
Italian consumAtors have made a clear decision, Stop Palm Oil!, and the supply chain has been quick to respond. It will go down in history the decision of Coop Italia, the country’s leading ‘retailer,’ which within days of the publication of the EFSA opinion removed palm from all of its branded references that contained it, more than 200. Before and after, almost all companies and manufacturing industries, most recently even Barilla, which has also reduced fat by more than 40 percent with BuonGrano.
Thus, the ‘lobby’ of pro-palm advocates seems to have dissolved in a glass of water, indeed of sunflower oil. Malaysian giants denounce betrayal of those who boast ‘palm oil-free’ in defiance of RSPO commitments. The ‘palmares’ of obstinacy remains with Mondelez (Kraft), Unilever and Ferrero at the forefront, Nestlé, Mars, Danone and others in the wings. Meanwhile in Italy, the ‘Ferrero Rethink Us’ petition is gaining new support.
True ‘Made in Italy’ is therefore reaffirmed ‘without palm oil,’ as per the best tradition and with respect for the values of local communities, the environment, and consumers.
Dario Dongo
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
