The Indian Food and Beverage Association (IFBA) has criticised the growing trend of “No Palm Oil” labels on packaged products, calling it a marketing tactic that misleads consumers rather than a claim supported by science. Deepak Jolly, Chairperson of the Indian Food and Beverage Association (IFBA), stated that palm oil plays a recognised role in a healthy and balanced diet. He added that labels such as ‘No Palm Oil’ are misleading, as they prioritise marketing over science, referencing the Ministry of Health’s dietary guidelines.
Palm Oil’s Role and Benefits
Palm oil is one of the most affordable and versatile edible oils and is used widely by leading global brands because of its long shelf life and nutritional stability. India consumes about 26 million tonnes of edible oil annually, of which nearly 9 million tonnes is palm oil.
Shilpa Agrawal, Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at IFBA, pointed to the Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 released by the ICMR National Institute of Nutrition. The guidelines recognise the benefits of tocotrienols in palm oil, which help lower cholesterol and support heart health. They also recommend rotating different edible oils, including palm oil, to maintain a balanced fatty acid intake.
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Concerns Over Social Media Narratives
The IFBA cautioned that such labelling trends could mislead consumers into making food choices based on social media discussions rather than scientific evidence. Jolly noted that these narratives distract from the importance of overall nutritional balance and could undermine India’s efforts towards self-reliance, ultimately harming farmers, producers, consumers, and the national economy.
Support for National Mission
Highlighting policy measures, the association praised the government’s National Mission on Edible Oils Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), launched in 2021 with an outlay of ₹11,040 crore. The mission aims to boost domestic oil palm cultivation and reduce India’s dependency on imported edible oils.
The IFBA emphasised that consumers should be cautious of influencers who exaggerate claims without a proper understanding of nutrition science. It stated that marketing tactics like ‘Palm Oil Free’ labels are not a substitute for balanced dietary advice.
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