By Jack Leather, Olly Burton and Joffy Jenkins

Palm oil is a form of edible vegetable oil obtained from the fruit of the oil palm tree. Previously it was the second most widely produced edible oil, after soybean oil, 28 million metric tons were produced worldwide in Now it may have passed soybean oil and could possibly be the most widely produced vegetable oil in the world.

Palm oil is in many different household products, many that you would not realise or even think contain it. Palm oil actually obtains a reddish colour but this does not carry through into products. Things like cooking oil, butter, margarine, chocolate, bread, crisps, detergents, soaps, washing powders, perfumes and lipsticks all contain palm oil. It is a common fact that 1 in 10 supermarket products contain palm oil and this number is rising.

Palm oil, as many people know, is produced practically wherever there is tropical rainforest. This because the ground is perfect for growing this type of problem. The reason many people know where it is produced is because it is such a constant issue in the news. The reason it is in the news is because that many different animals are loosing their homes and habitats because of palm oil plantations. This is increasingly worrying as many of these animals are endangered species, like orangutans. Joffy!

An estimated 1.5 million small farmers grow the crop in Indonesia, whereas about 0.5 million people are employed into the business in Malaysia. In 2006, the total estimated area of palm oil plantation was 11 million hectares. It is estimated that in 2012, due to the rapidly increasing demand for palm oil, many of the protected rainforests that exist today will be no more. Along with many different known species, and unknown species that are yet to discovered. This will be through illegal hunting, poaching, trading, logging, forest fires (human caused and naturally caused) and also the increase of palm oil plantations. There are may species under threat due to palm oil plantations here are the ones that are on the endangered list; Borneo Orangutans, Sumatran Tiger and The Asian Rhinoceros

The NGO’s have accused the growth of the amount of plantations also being responsible for the acceleration of Global Warming. Many companies like ADM, Unilever, Cargill, Proctor & Gamble, Nestle, Kraft and Burger King all use palm oil in their products and are all demanding more and more palm oil everyday and support the increase of its growth.

Use less products that contain palm oil Always check the label for palm oil Go to Burger King less, and don’t use ADM, Unilever, Cargill, Proctor & Gamble, Nestle and Kraft’s products. BAN THE MILKY-BAR KID, HE’S IN ON THE PALM OIL BUISSNESS TOO !!!! Follow these easy 4 steps and help stop palm oil being used.

Eggs – it is impossible to tell in a pre-made supermarket trifle, but if it is home made always look for the little red tractor on your eggs. Milk – it is the same issue if it is shop bought, but look for the little red tractor if it is going to be a home made trifle. Butter – exactly the same as milk and eggs. Flour – most flour is produced in the UK anyway, but just in case look for a great Britain flag or a “Made in the UK” stamp. We can brag about our cup of tea, our bacon butty and our scones and cream. But can we have the bragging wrights for the Trifle and its sponge… Here is a list of ingredients for a trifle sponge The little red tractor sign signals the product is produced in Great Britain.