The announcement that KFC are shifting away from their controversial use of Palm Oil to alternative and healthier oils for their cooking was greeted with enthusiasm by the Palm Oil Action Group (POAG) yesterday.

“This clearly shows that consumer awareness of the devastating effects of Palm Oil plantations is growing. We now call on other companies such as Woolworths to follow suit and remove the use of Palm Oil from their products” says Anasuya Claff of POAG.

Around 50 orangutans are killed each week from Palm Oil operations, with some estimates giving them less than 5 years left in the wild as a species. Palm Oil expansion is also linked to a host of other important issues including climate change, illegal clearing of forests, water pollution and the displacement of local indigenous populations.

The Palm Oil Action Group are running a consumer oriented campaign aimed at KFC and Woolworths, calling on KFC to stop using this devastating oil as their cooking oil and on Woolworths to remove Palm Oil from their Homebrand products. Successful actions have been run in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Lismore, and there are more to come.

“Now that KFC has seen the light we will be intensifying our current efforts with Woolworths supermarkets to ensure they remove Palm Oil from all their Homebrand products. It is something they have been promising for over two years. 2009 is the year for this promise to be fulfilled” says Ms Claff.

Woolworths have removed Palm Oil from their Select Products but seem to be moving very slowly on removing it from their Homebrand products, evidenced by the fact that they still cook their chips in Palm Oil. Not only is this bad for the planet, it’s bad for us humans, as Palm Oil is high in saturated fat, and biomedical research indicates that the consumption of palm oil increases the risk of heart disease.

“Companies such as KFC are obviously feeling the heat from consumer pressure and Woolworths should take note. We will welcome their announcement for a concrete timeline to fully phase Palm Oil out of their Homebrand products by the end of 2009” says Ms Claff.

For further information on The Palm Oil Action Group’s campaign please see http://www.palmoilaction.org.au/pages/what-can-i-do.html.

For further information please contact Anasuya Claff on 0431 779 644 or at anasuya@palmoilaction.org.au.