El Palm oil It is a product with multiple applications and of which millions of liters are consumed each year worldwide. However, it is also a controversial food due to what its abuse means for health, and what its cultivation implies in terms of biodiversity.
You've probably heard of it, but do you know where it comes from and how it is obtained? Keep reading to resolve these and other questions you may have about this oil.
What is palm oil and what is it used for?
This is a vegetable oil obtained from the fruit of the African palm (Elaeis guineensis). In recent years, the area dedicated to its cultivation has multiplied, because it is a product that has numerous applications inside and outside the food industry.
Food industry
This is one of the most used vegetable oils in the production of all types of processed products: bakery, sweets, snacks and even salad dressings. Because it has a light texture, remains stable against high temperatures, and its flavor is neutral.
cosmetic industry
Palm oil is also commonly used in the cosmetic industry. It is used in the production of soaps, shampoos, moisturizing creams, and all types of products for facial and body cleansing. Because it has good emollient properties and is quickly absorbed by the skin.
Cleaning products industry
This vegetable oil is also part of the composition of detergents and other products for cleaning and home care. Because it has a Good foaming ability and is able to remove dirt effectively.
biofuel industry
As with corn and other foods, palm oil is raw material for the generation of biofuels. Because it allows you to obtain high energy performance with a low production cost.
What is the African palm from which this oil comes?
This species is native to West Africa, but is becoming a monoculture that affects diversity, because it is already being exploited in many regions that have a tropical climate. In fact, this is a matter of controversy, because They are deforesting forests with native species to plant this palm and obtain its popular oil from it.
The African palm is a large tree, which can reach up to 20 meters in height. Its trunk is straight and is crowned by a dense crown with fan-shaped leaves. Its fruits are the clusters of palm fruits, They grow at the apex and are composed of a fleshy pulp and a seed.
This is a very hardy, evergreen tree, which thrives well in warm, humid climates, where It finds fertile soils with good drainage capacity.
The African palm is a tree with a high level of production, capable of bearing fruit throughout the year. This makes it very profitable, and explains the reason why its cultivation has spread to different regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America.
How is palm oil obtained?
First, the ripe fruit clusters are harvested. This can be done by hand or with specialized machinery, depending on how technologically advanced the plantation in question is.
The fruits are transported to a processing plant, where the pulp is separated from the seed. Both parts are crushed and pressed, so that they release their oil. Palm oil is obtained from the pulp, and palm kernel oil is obtained from the seed.
The two oils go through a refining process and are then processed to remove all traces of impurities. So that the final product has the highest possible quality.
Palm oil and the risks it poses to health
Despite its popularity and its common presence in food products, palm oil has been harshly criticized, because it is considered to be harmful to health:
- High content of saturated fats. Its content is higher than that of other vegetable oils such as coconut or olive oil. And it is known that excessive consumption of these fats can lead to excess LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), which can have consequences on people's cardiovascular health.
- High content of trans fatty acids. The processing of palm oil results in the formation of small amounts of trans fatty acids, which is considered an unhealthy fat.
- Processing and refinement. The oil is subjected to high temperatures and exposed to different chemicals to become the product that the industry wants it to be. This may cause it to contain traces or compounds that may have negative effects on health.
The environmental impact of the exploitation of African palm
Overexploitation of African palm to obtain palm oil has been called into question by the experts.
Deforestation and habitat loss
The massive cultivation of this species implies the conversion of vast areas of tropical forest and peatlands into agricultural plantations. This seriously affects the habitat of animal and plant species that could end up disappearing.
Greenhouse gas emission
Deforestation associated with African palm cultivation releases large amounts of carbon that was stored in forests and peatlands into the atmosphere. Phenomenon that increases the effects of the greenhouse effect and accelerates climate change.
Destruction of peatlands
Peatlands are a unique habitat for wildlife that has taken millennia to form. Eliminating them means a strong release of carbon to the atmosphere and can have a great impact on hydrology and local biodiversity.
Intensive use of agrochemicals
Intensive palm cultivation for oil often involves using fertilizers and pesticides that pollute the soil, air and water, affecting both the environment and human health.
Although palm oil is not a bad product in itself, the abuse that occurs in its consumption and in the cultivation of palm to obtain itYes, it can have important consequences for us and the environment.