Since 2014, most Norwegian retail chains have gradually chosen to replace palm oil with sunflower oil in several of their products. This has meant that well-known products such as Marie biscuits, Nugatti and Smash have had their ingredient list changed in the last eight years.
The attitude towards the Norwegian grocery chains has been strong. Rema 1000 in particular has been at the forefront of closing the doors for goods with palm oil.
Ukraine at the top of sunflower producers
– Palm oil does great damage to both the rainforest and the body. In 2014, we therefore removed palm oil in all our own foods and closed the door to all product news with palm oil – as the first grocery player in Norway, it says on Rema 1000’s website.
The Rema chain is now part of the Norwegian food industry which opens up to use palm oil in the products they sell.
The war in Ukraine has made sunflower oil difficult to obtain. Ukraine and Russia are at the top of countries that produce sunflower oil. 58 percent of the world’s sunflower oil is produced in the two countries. 6 million tons in Ukraine, and 5 million tons in Russia.
– UNPOPULAR OIL: Palm oil has been removed from a number of foods in recent years. Now it may have to return as an ingredient due to the lack of sunflower oil. Photo: Kristin Grønning / TV 2
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– Can not rule out
Norgesgruppen has over 2000 grocery stores throughout the country, including Kiwi, Meny, Spar and Joker. Nor can they rule out that in the future there will be palm oil to look at the ingredient lists of the products they sell in the shops.
– Norgesine’s head of communications, Kine Søyland, says that Norgesgruppen will use certified palm oil if necessary. Photo: Norgesgruppen
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– We can not rule it out. But for now, we are mapping and looking at alternatives to sunflower oil. The goal is to find other oils that can be just as suitable, but it is asked what the oil should be used for. And to the extent that we want to use palm oil, we will use certified oil that is traceable, says communications manager in Norgesgruppen, Kine Søyland, to TV 2.
– Does this mean that the customer must check the ingredient list himself to be sure that the item does not contain palm oil?
– We have to get back to that. All labeling of our products must be correct at all times. Also if we have to change ingredients, says Søyland.
– In a special situation
The Coop chain is also opening up to replace sunflower oil with palm oil in its products. It will be relevant if the alternative is to be without goods, TV 2 is informed.
– We are now in a situation where due to lack of raw materials you may have no choice but to replace sunflower oil with other suitable products. What you replace sunflower oil with is up to the manufacturers, but we set requirements for our own brands in that case you use certified oils, says communications manager at Coop, Harald Kristiansen, to TV 2.
– Have you considered how long you will open for this?
– Coop’s head of communications, Harald Kristiansen, says that Coop is opening up to sell goods with palm oil. Photo: Espen Solli
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– When we return to the normal situation, access to raw materials in Norway will also improve, and it will not be necessary to use, for example, palm oil, says Kristiansen.
The Norwegian group has not yet decided what attitude they will have towards palm oil in the future.
– We have to get back to that. The world is in a special situation, and this is something we are discussing, says Søyland.
She adds that they are currently experiencing a good flow of goods in all their stores, and encourages customers to shop as normal.
– Worried
The Rainforest Fund has worked to reduce the use of palm oil for many years.
Department head Nils Hermann Ranum says that they are concerned that an increase in demand may lead to increased deforestation of the rainforest.
– The situation in Ukraine is deeply tragic. At the same time, it is important that we deal with the consequences of the war in a way that does not aggravate other crises. We are completely dependent on saving the rainforest to avoid loss of biological diversity, says Ranum.
– ALTERNATIVES: Department head Nils Hermann Ranum in the Rainforest Fund believes Norwegians are willing to pay a little more to avoid further deforestation of the rainforest. Photo: Rainforest Fund Norway
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The Rainforest Fund has sent written recommendations to the chains. They encourage finding other oil alternatives, and if this is not possible, make sure that the palm oil they use comes from certified plantations. As soon as possible, they should go away from the palm oil again.
Ranum believes the topic has engaged both the industry and consumers so much that one is willing to pay a little more to use other alternatives, if necessary.
– If the alternative is to pay a few øre more to save the rainforest, I think it is a price Norwegians are willing to pay, says the department head.
The fund is waiting to make its recommendations on whether consumers should avoid products with palm oil until they see how large the scope is.
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