Outrage after Iceland reintroduces previously 'banned' palm oil ingredient

Shoppers have spoken out after the chief executive of Iceland admitted the company has reintroduced the use of palm oil in some of its own label products after its reliance on sunflower oil "suddenly become totally unobtainable" to use. The retail chain said that it is with 'regret' it will be using Palm Oil in some own-brand products due to price demands

At the time the company stopped its use of the product it explained it was due to it wanting to "take a stand against tropical deforestation". It ran an entire Christmas advert campaign on the devastating effects of palm oil in 2018, M.E.N reports.

But in a blog on the Iceland site, its CEO, Richard Walker, wrote: "When Iceland removed palm oil as an ingredient from all its own label products in 2018, to take a stand against tropical deforestation, we greatly increased our reliance on sunflower oil. Now that it has suddenly become totally unobtainable, we are working closely with our suppliers to find alternatives.

"In many cases we can substitute rapeseed oil but there are some recipes where the only viable substitute for sunflower oil – either because of its processing properties or taste issues – turns out to be … palm oil. I say this with huge regret, but the only alternative to using palm oil under the current circumstances would simply be to clear our freezers and shelves of a wide range of staples including frozen chips and other potato products.

"So we have agreed to use certified sustainable palm oil – as a last resort and as a strictly temporary measure – in a limited range of Iceland own label products that will begin to appear in our stores from June. All packs will of course clearly show palm oil in the list of ingredients where it has been used.

"I haven’t changed my mind about palm oil – which is why this is strictly a temporary move, and one that I would not countenance at all if I could see any viable alternative. Massively increasing global demand for palm oil inevitably means continuing pressure on the globally important tropical rainforest areas where it is grown, and I therefore remain sceptical as to whether there ever really can be any such thing as truly ‘sustainable palm oil’ available in the mass market where Iceland operates.

"That said, our decision to remove palm oil as an ingredient in 2018 not only had a huge impact on consumer awareness of the issue of tropical deforestation – our ‘banned’ Rang-Tan Christmas TV ad has now been viewed more than 90 million times on social media. It also helped to produce important fresh commitments from the palm oil industry that it would act to eliminate deforestation from its supply chain."

When the Independent shared the news on Facebook, shopper fury quickly intensified. Some shoppers are saying they will never shop at Iceland again, while others are urging the supermarket to rethink its decision.

One shopper said: "Tell that to the animals whose habit this will destroy. Oh wait you can’t they will be dead! Let’s not even go with the use in moderation only for one’s health. Humans and animals will pay the price."

While another commented: "Another loaf of bread I can't buy. As well as destroying the planet it's in everything and listed under tons of different names." And another added: "No more Iceland for us. It's hard to shop ethically and at reasonable prices you are letting us down Iceland." Another shopper went as far to say: "Well I wont be shopping there again."