#MSPO certification demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment towards the production of sustainable palm oil!

#Palmoil is one of the most versatile oils used for cooking. It contains monounsaturated fats which are proven to be beneficial for health and is free from cholesterol and trans-fat which are considered unhealthy and detrimental to the body. There is evidence that a diet containing palm oil can actually reduce cholesterol levels: in a 2015 clinical trial published in the journal Food and Function, both palm oil and olive oil reduced cholesterol by 15 per cent.

Palm oil contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are known to be beneficial to health

Vegetable oil such as soybean, rapeseed and sunflower are liquid at room temperature, so in order to be useful in many food products it has to go through an industrial process to turn it into a semi-solid. That process, known as hydrogenation, creates trans fats which are known to be linked to cardiovascular disease. According to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, replacing trans fats with palm oil reduces heart disease risk markers and improves blood lipids.

It has played an important role in improving diets as countries around the world have moved to ban or restrict trans-fats in foods. It’s high in tocotrienols, a type of vitamin E with antioxidant properties can slow the progression of dementia and lower stroke risk. Palm oil is also a sustainable key stock for the ‘Green’ industry due to its high productivity rate as compared to other crops.

Dato’ Dr. Hj Wan Zawawi Wan Ismail, CEO, Malaysian Palm Oil Council added “Due to its multifaceted composition, various benefits are attributed to the Malaysian Palm Oil such as supporter of vision and health, neuroprotective, cardio protective and potential anti- carcinogenic properties. This oil is the right choice for your food to achieve a balanced diet.”

The Malaysian government has set up the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification Scheme, for oil palm plantations, independent and organised smallholdings, and palm oil processing facilities to be certified against the requirements of the MSPO Standards. The mandatory implementation of MSPO certification demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment towards the production of sustainable palm oil.