Farmley, a company specialising in snacks, recently announced its decision to eliminate palm oil from its products through its “Palms Off Palm Oil” campaign. According to the company, this initiative is part of a year-long effort aimed at transitioning to healthier alternatives like olive oil, ghee, or zero-oil options across its entire product line. Palm oil has been a topic of concern due to its high saturated fat content, prompting Farmley to claim that it is redefining healthy snacking for its customers by going completely palm oil-free.
In the food industry, it’s common to find blended palm oil products where palm oil makes up 80-90%, with the remaining percentage consisting of olive oil. Farmley claims that it is distinguishing itself as one of the first brands to achieve a 100% Palm Oil-Free status.
To complement its product changes, Farmley has launched the “Palms Off Palm Oil” campaign. According to the company, this campaign serves to raise awareness among consumers about the negative effects associated with palm oil. Farmley’s initiative also includes educational efforts, where the company claims to inform consumers about palm oil’s impacts on health, ecology, and its role in contributing to deforestation, loss of wildlife habitats, and climate change.
“At Farmley, prioritising the well-being and satisfaction of our consumers stands at the forefront of our mission. We began our journey 6 months ago to go completely palm oil-free when a few of our customers expressed resentment towards our products being made in palm oil during our regular customer feedback surveys. Customer feedback is not just a suggestion box for us; it’s a guiding light that impacts our business decisions. We are happy to be among the first to transition our entire range of products to being completely palm oil free by replacing it with zero-oil, olive oil, or ghee. While this move will cater to the health of the nation, from a business perspective, it will provide us a first-mover advantage into an emerging F&B segment, which focuses on food quality and health. As we continue to innovate and improve, we remain committed to providing snacks that are not only delicious but also mindful of our planet and its inhabitants,” Akash Sharma, co-founder, Farmley, said.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine reveals that palm oil is used in almost half of the most commonly consumed food and consumer items, including popular snacks. Composed of 50% saturated fatty acid, it increases LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, increasing the unhealthy fat content in the human body while elevating the risk of cardiovascular diseases in people.