How do you know if a product contains palm oil?

December 26, 2025 •

4 min read

Did you know palm oil is a raw material in close to 50% of packaged products on supermarket shelves, from food to cosmetics? Understanding how to know if a product contains palm oil is essential for making informed decisions about the items you buy and for supporting ethical supply chains.

Quick Summary

Learn the methods for spotting palm oil and its numerous hidden aliases on product labels, from food to cosmetics, to make more informed purchasing decisions.

Key Points

Know the aliases: Learn to recognize the over 200 derivatives and alternative names for palm oil, which often hide its presence.
Look for the 'Four Roots': Keep an eye out for ingredient names containing 'Laur', 'Stear', 'Glyc', and 'Cetyl', as these are strong indicators of a palm oil derivative.
Be cautious of 'Vegetable Oil': If a product lists generic 'vegetable oil' or 'vegetable fat' and is high in saturated fat, it likely contains palm oil.
Check for certifications: Look for logos like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to support companies making efforts toward sustainable sourcing.
Use technology to your advantage: Mobile apps and online resources from organizations like Palm Oil Investigations can help you quickly scan barcodes and search for products.
Target high-risk products: Pay extra attention when buying common items known to contain palm oil, such as baked goods, chocolate, peanut butter, soap, and cosmetics.
Support transparency: Reward companies that clearly label their ingredients and practice responsible sourcing by choosing their products over less transparent competitors.

Deciphering the Ingredients List: Common Aliases

Identifying palm oil on an ingredients list can be challenging because manufacturers are not always required to label it explicitly. It is often concealed under hundreds of different names, many of which are derivatives. Savvy consumers, therefore, need to recognize common patterns and aliases. The following sections detail the types of ingredient names to look out for on both food and non-food products.

Direct Palm-Derived Names

Start by looking for obvious names that include the word "palm" or its variants. These are the easiest to spot and are definite indicators of a palm oil or palm kernel oil derivative.

Palm Oil: The most straightforward name.
Palm Kernel Oil: Oil from the seed, not the fruit pulp.
Palm Fruit Oil: Another clear reference.
Palmate / Palmitate: Often found in vitamins and personal care products.
Palmolein: A fraction of palm oil, typically used for frying.
Glyceryl Palmitate: An emulsifier.
Elaeis Guineensis: The scientific name for the oil palm tree.

The "Laur", "Stear", and "Glyc" Clues

Many palm oil derivatives use chemical names that contain specific root words, which serve as crucial clues. While these ingredients can sometimes be derived from other oils (like coconut), their presence is a strong indicator of potential palm origin.

Laur-: Any ingredient starting with Laur- is a red flag. Examples include Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, and Lauric Acid.
Stear-: The prefix Stear- indicates a stearate or stearyl compound. Watch for Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate, and Steareth-2.
Glyc-: This can refer to glycerin or glyceryl, both common palm-derived compounds. Examples include Glycerin (or Glycerine), Glycol Distearate, and Hydrated Palm Glycerides.

Numerical Codes (Emulsifiers)

In some regions, like the EU, palm oil derivatives are simply listed by their E-number, which are numerical codes for food additives. Emulsifiers within a specific range may indicate the presence of palm oil, though they can also be sourced from other vegetable fats. Examples include E471 (Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), E472a-h, and others.

The Generic "Vegetable Oil"

This is perhaps the most common disguise for palm oil, particularly in regions with less stringent labeling laws, such as Australia and New Zealand. If you see "Vegetable Oil" on an ingredients list and the source isn't specified (e.g., "sunflower oil"), it's very likely to be palm oil. This is especially true for pre-packaged snacks and processed foods.

Beyond the Label: Verification Methods

Since the ingredients list can be deceptive, you need to employ other strategies to be sure about a product's contents.

Check the Saturated Fat Content

If the ingredients list includes "vegetable oil" without specifying the type, examine the nutritional information. Palm oil is a saturated fat, and if the product has a high saturated fat content, it could contain palm oil. However, this method is not foolproof, as other high-saturated fat oils like coconut oil also exist.

Look for Sustainable Certifications (RSPO)

Organizations like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) offer certification for sustainably sourced palm oil. While the effectiveness of these certifications is debated, looking for the RSPO logo on packaging indicates that the company is actively sourcing from certified suppliers.

Use Technology and Online Resources

Several non-profit organizations have developed apps and online databases to help consumers identify palm oil. These tools allow you to scan barcodes or search products to find out if they contain palm oil. These resources are frequently updated with the latest information on brands and ingredients.

Products Commonly Containing Palm Oil

Palm oil's low cost and versatile properties make it a ubiquitous ingredient. Here are some of the most common products to check carefully:

Food Items: Cookies, biscuits, instant noodles, margarine, chocolate, ice cream, peanut butter, and pre-packaged dough.
Personal Care & Cosmetics: Many soaps, shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, and lipstick.
Cleaning Products: Laundry detergent, household cleaners.
Other: Biofuel and candles.

A Comparison of Identification Methods


Method	Pros	Cons
Reading Ingredient Labels	Direct way to spot obvious names like "palm oil" or "palm kernel oil".	Relies on recognizing hundreds of aliases; generic labeling is common.
Checking Saturated Fat	Useful for confirming suspicion when "vegetable oil" is listed.	Can be misleading if other high-saturated fat oils like coconut oil are used.
Looking for Certifications (RSPO)	Indicates a company's commitment to sustainable sourcing.	Not all companies participate, and some question the rigor of certain certifications.
Using Apps/Online Databases	Provides up-to-date lists and scanner functions for specific products.	Requires external technology and may not cover all brands or regions.
Researching Brands	Allows a deeper understanding of a company's sourcing policies.	Time-consuming and not feasible for every product purchased.

Conclusion: Becoming a Savvy Shopper

While identifying palm oil can be a complex task, becoming a conscious consumer is achievable with the right knowledge and tools. By knowing the many names it hides under, cross-referencing with nutritional information, looking for certifications, and utilizing technology, you can navigate supermarket aisles with confidence. Remember, the goal is not necessarily a complete boycott—which could cause other environmental issues—but to demand transparency and support companies that are committed to sustainable sourcing. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Palm Oil Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common hidden name for palm oil is the generic term "vegetable oil" or "vegetable fat," especially on food labels in regions with less strict labeling laws.

Not always, as they can sometimes come from other vegetable oils like coconut. However, the presence of these compounds is a very strong indicator that the product could contain a palm-derived ingredient.

No, a high saturated fat content can also come from other sources, such as coconut oil. However, when paired with generic "vegetable oil" on the ingredients list, it significantly increases the likelihood that palm oil is present.

The RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certification is a global standard for the responsible production and sourcing of palm oil. It indicates that the palm oil used has been produced according to a set of environmental and social criteria.

Some argue that a complete boycott is not the best solution because palm is an efficient crop, and switching to less efficient alternatives could lead to more land use and habitat destruction. Demanding sustainable palm oil from manufacturers is often considered a more effective approach.

Check cosmetics labels for derivatives like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cetyl Palmitate, and Glyceryl Stearate. You can also use apps or websites from organizations like the Orangutan Alliance for help.

The scientific name for the oil palm tree is Elaeis guineensis. This name may appear on ingredients lists and is a direct indication of a palm oil product.