Palm oil Fallacies With a Full-on Campaign

Palm oil is the most consumed vegetable oil in the world. A key product for responding to the needs of the world food-processing industry, it accounts for 35% of the world vegetable oil market.

http://www.star2.com/palmoil/2015/10/05/quashing-palm-oil-fallacies-with-a-full-on-campaign/ 

In Malaysia, the development of sustainable palm oil is a major source of employment, and has constantly contributed towards the eradication of poverty.

Despite its benefits however, public perceptions about palm oil, particularly in parts of Europe, have not always been positive. Due to years of negative campaigning by certain NGOs and groups, palm oil has been unfairly blamed for a host of problems, with myths persisting about its supposed impact on nutrition, health, the environment, economies, and sustainable development in Asia and Africa.

To counter these fallacies, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) launched an information campaign in France and Belgium on Sept 7. Themed They say everything and anything at all about Malaysian palm oil, the campaign aims to combat preconceived ideas about palm oil, while inviting the public to form their own opinions about the crop.

“Palm oil is an excellent product and food manufacturers are aware of this. Unfortunately, wrong information is passed on to consumers and this has affected its image. Today, perception is the new reality, and we must take this seriously,” says MPOC CEO Tan Sri Dr Yusof Basiron.

This is the first time that MPOC is launching such an information campaign in Europe. According to Dr Yusof, his organisation decided to start the campaign in France and Belgium, due to the need to tackle the myths where they are strongest.

“Palm oil has suffered from an image problem in France and Belgium for a number of years, due to negative and disparaging campaigns. France is a very important market in Europe, because the country is seen as a leader in both issues of food and health, and also of the environment,” says Dr Yusof.

“Where France leads, many other countries in Europe often follow, so it is very important for MPOC to be present there, and active. So continued engagement in Europe – where the opposition is strongest – is very important.”