Palm Oil is found in over 50% of common supermarket products, yet unspecific labeling regulations deny Americans the right to know what is in their food, and how it was produced.
Palm oil production contributes significantly to climate change, deforestation, and air pollution. As large swaths of rainforest and peat swamps are cleared, especially in Malaysia and Indonesia, for palm oil plantations, huge amounts of carbon are emitted, habitats of unique plants and animals are destroyed, and local people are displaced.
Efforts are underway to promote more sustainable palm oil; however, as long as food labels are vague and misleading, consumers will not be able to make informed choices about what they purchase.
President Obama, please speak out in favor of mandatory labeling of palm oil.