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Economy in brief: CPOPC council slams UK supermarket
The Council of Palm Oil Producer Countries (CPOPC), which has 10 member countries including Indonesia, has protested against British supermarket chain Iceland following the latter’s decision to remove palm oil from its own-brand food by the end of 2018
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span>The Council of Palm Oil Producer Countries (CPOPC), which has 10 member countries including Indonesia, has protested against British supermarket chain Iceland following the latter’s decision to remove palm oil from its own-brand food by the end of 2018.
The supermarket chain claimed that palm oil production was contributing to deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia and threatened to cause the extinction of endangered species, Reuters reported recently.
CPOPC executive director Mahendra Siregar said in a press statement on Sunday that the supermarket’s move created a misleading view among global consumers toward palm oil as it would likely trigger “negative campaigns toward the palm oil industry worldwide”.
Mahendra, who is a former Indonesian deputy trade minister, claimed that palm oil helped protect land all over the world as it had the highest productivity compared to other vegetable-based oils, such as those made from rapeseed, soy bean and sunflowers.
He cited data showing that palm oil plantations produced six tons of fruit per hectare, more than rapeseed, 0.3 tons per ha, and soy bean and sunflower oil production, which both stood at 0.6 tons per ha.
“That is why Iceland Co.’s campaign will instead prompt a shift toward greater land usage by replacing palm oil plantations, which is not possible globally, moreover in Europe,” he said. “It is based on our view as palm oil-producing countries.”
The CPOPC has sent a letter of protest to Iceland Foods Ltd. managing director Richard Walker.
