The good oil on KFC lobby effort

AAP

A CAMPAIGN which started in Ballina and Lismore to lobby KFC to stop using palm oil has paid off.

The Palm Oil Action Group has congratulated the fast-food company on its decision to stop using the controversial oil.

Spokeswoman Anasuya Claff said they were now calling on other companies, including Woolworths, to come on board as well.

“This clearly shows that consumer awareness of the devastating effects of palm oil plantations is growing,” she said.

Ms Claff said about 50 orangutans were killed each week as a result of palm oil operations.

She also said some experts believed orangutans would be extinct within five years.

“Palm oil expansion is also linked to a host of other important issues including climate change, illegal clearing of forests, water pollution, and the displacement of local indigenous populations,” Ms Claff said.

The Palm Oil Action Group had run an intensive campaign in an effort to convince KFC to stop using palm oil as its cooking oil.

The group also wants Woolworths to remove Palm Oil from its Homebrand products.

“Now that KFC has seen the light we will be intensifying our current efforts with Woolworths supermarkets to ensure they remove palm oil from all their Homebrand products,” Ms Claff said.

“It is something they have been promising for over two years - 2009 is the year for this promise to be fulfilled.”

Woolworths has removed palm oil from its range of select products.

But Ms Claff said the company still cooked its chips in the oil.

“Not only is this bad for the planet, it's bad for us humans, as palm oil is high in saturated fat and biomedical research indicates that the consumption of palm oil increases the risk of heart disease,” she said.

“Companies such as KFC are obviously feeling the heat from consumer pressure and Woolworths should take note.

“We will welcome their announcement for a concrete timeline to fully phase palm oil out of their Homebrand products by the end of 2009.”

For more information on the Palm Oil Action Group's campaign, visit www.palmoil action.org.au/pages/what-can-i-do.html.