Call for palm oil labels

A campaign to make the correct labelling of palm oil compulsory was launched last year at Auckland Zoo. Unmask Palm Oil is a youth-led petition calling on the government to introduce mandatory palm oil labelling.

Currently palm oil can be labelled as one of 200 different scientific names or as the generic term vegetable oil, making it next to impossible for consumers to avoid the controversial product.

Campaign co-ordinator Ben Dowdle said clearing land for palm oil production is responsible for large scale deforestation in South East Asia, which in turn is a threat to animals such the orang-utan, Sumatran tiger, Asian elephant and hundreds of other plant and animal species.

About Unmask Palm Oil

Unmask Palm Oil is a campaign with the simple aim of mandatory palm oil labelling. For more information see:

www.unmaskpalmoil.co.nz