Summary: Opponents of palm oil cite the travesty of deforestation, obliteration of endangered species, and an assault on indigenous people. Is that always the case?You may have heard about the controversy surrounding palm oil. Opponents cite the travesty of deforestation, the obliteration of endangered species, and an assault on indigenous people. Certainly these issues are legitimate in the conversation of global preservation and sustainability. However, not all palm oil is harvested from regions that uphold these practices. For example, the palm oil used in MELT Organic products is sourced from Columbia and is Rain Forest Alliance Certified. These plantations are found on pre-existing agricultural land, so the fallout from deforestation is a non-issue. The manufacturing plant the company uses has been Fair Trade USA certified. MELT has chosen to use palm oil in its products because of its health benefits. It's a perfect replacement for hydrogenated oils, which are high in trans fat. The oil provides an appealing texture and "mouth feel," and it has a high smoke point. Cygnia Rapp, founder of MELT, joins hosts Andrea and Lisa to explain the controversy behind palm oil, as well as what her company is doing to promote Fair Trade practices around the globe. She also discusses a new product containing a dormant probiotic strain that survives a long shelf-life, as well as the acidity of the human gastric system.
