Nutrition Diet: Which brands do not use palm oil?

October 20, 2025 •

5 min read

Over the past 50 years, the global land occupied by palm oil plantations has increased nearly nine-fold, a major driver of deforestation. For many consumers, finding out which brands do not use palm oil has become a crucial part of making health-conscious nutritional and ethical choices.

Quick Summary

A comprehensive guide on identifying food and product brands that do not use palm oil. Review lists of companies in food and beauty sectors committed to being palm oil-free, explore healthy alternative oils, and learn how to read labels effectively to make informed, ethical purchases.

Key Points

Check Labels Carefully: Palm oil can be hidden under generic terms like 'vegetable oil' or 'vegetable fat', so it's vital to read ingredient lists thoroughly.
Choose Palm Oil-Free Brands: Brands like Mr Organic, Whole Earth, and Moo Free offer food products without palm oil, while Ethique and Fat and the Moon specialize in palm oil-free personal care items.
Consider Alternatives: Healthier cooking oils like olive, sunflower, avocado, and canola can be excellent substitutes for palm oil in home cooking and baking.
Understand the Impact: Palm oil production is linked to deforestation, habitat destruction for endangered species, and high saturated fat content, motivating many to seek alternatives.
Cook with Whole Foods: Focusing on whole, unprocessed foods naturally minimizes your consumption of hidden palm oil and other processed ingredients.
Utilize Ethical Resources: Use online resources and apps from organizations like Palm Oil Detectives or WWF to help identify and support brands with transparent or palm oil-free policies.

The Double-Edged Sword: Palm Oil and Its Impacts

Palm oil is a versatile, high-yielding vegetable oil crop, which is why it's found in a vast number of products, from processed foods to cosmetics. Its semi-solid state at room temperature, low cost, and neutral flavor make it an attractive ingredient for manufacturers. However, these benefits come with significant ethical and nutritional considerations that have led many consumers to seek alternatives.

From a nutritional standpoint, palm oil is high in saturated fat, with more than 50% saturated fatty acids. While some studies show conflicting results regarding its impact on heart health, many health organizations, such as the American Heart Association, recommend limiting saturated fat intake and prioritizing oils rich in unsaturated fats instead.

Environmentally, the impact is more clear-cut. The expansion of oil palm plantations, particularly in Southeast Asia, has been a significant driver of tropical deforestation. This has devastating consequences for biodiversity, pushing species like orangutans, tigers, and rhinos to the brink of extinction. This destruction also releases large volumes of greenhouse gases by converting carbon-rich forests and peatlands into monoculture plantations.

Navigating the Palm Oil Maze: Reading Labels

One of the most frustrating aspects of avoiding palm oil is the difficulty in identifying it on ingredient labels. In many regions, manufacturers are permitted to list it simply as “vegetable oil” or “vegetable fat,” leaving consumers in the dark. Moreover, palm oil derivatives, which number in the hundreds, may be listed under obscure names, such as Palmitate or Stearic Acid. While some companies voluntarily label their palm oil, and others join sustainability initiatives, a vigilant approach to label reading is necessary for the committed ethical shopper.

Brands That Do Not Use Palm Oil

Fortunately, a growing number of brands are committed to producing palm oil-free products, responding to consumer demand for more transparent and ethical goods. These companies offer a range of products, from food items to beauty and cleaning supplies.

Food & Snacks

Mr Organic: A brand offering various products, including chocolate spreads, that are completely palm oil-free.
Alden's Organic: Offers organic ice creams that are free from artificial ingredients, including palm oil.
Whole Earth: A popular choice for peanut butter and other spreads that are certified palm oil-free.
Moo Free: Specializes in vegan and palm oil-free chocolate.
Seed and Bean: An organic, palm oil-free chocolate brand known for its creative flavors.
Tony's Chocolonely: A chocolate company committed to sourcing ethically and transparently, with some palm oil-free products.
Beyond Good: A bean-to-bar chocolate maker that offers a selection of palm oil-free options.

Beauty & Personal Care

Fat and the Moon: Offers a wide range of palm oil-free beauty products.
Ethique: Specializes in solid beauty bars (shampoo, conditioner) that are 100% palm oil-free.
Odylique: A beauty brand that intentionally avoids palm oil and its derivatives in its products.
Axiology: An ethical, vegan, and cruelty-free makeup brand that is 100% palm oil-free.
Badger: Creates balms and other body care products without palm oil.

Household Goods

Clean Conscience: Offers palm oil-free and cruelty-free laundry products.
Soap Nuts: A natural alternative for laundry that is inherently free of palm oil.
Planet Ark: Provides a range of cleaning products without palm oil.

A Comparison of Palm Oil and Healthy Alternatives

When deciding to go palm oil-free, it is helpful to compare it to healthier and more sustainable alternatives. The best choice depends on the specific cooking or baking application.


Feature	Palm Oil	Healthy Alternatives	Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO Certified)
Saturated Fat	High (>50%)	Varies (e.g., olive oil is low)	High (>50%)
Environmental Impact	Often linked to high deforestation	Varies (e.g., coconut oil production has some impact)	Lower, but certification is complex and debated
Health Benefits	Contains antioxidants, but high saturated fat is a concern	Contains heart-healthy unsaturated fats and antioxidants	Similar to conventional palm oil; nutritional profile remains unchanged.
Common Uses	Baked goods, margarine, chocolate, snacks	Cooking, baking, dressings, frying	Same as conventional palm oil, used by many large companies
Best For	Used in many processed foods for texture and stability	Daily cooking, salad dressings, sauteing	For those who choose to support sustainable industry practices rather than boycotting entirely

Practical Tips for Your Palm Oil-Free Nutrition Diet

Beyond simply knowing which brands to choose, here are some actionable steps to help you in your palm oil-free journey:

Focus on Whole Foods: By prioritizing fresh, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed grains, you naturally reduce your reliance on packaged and processed goods, which are the main sources of hidden palm oil.
Check Labels for Derivatives: Learn the various names used for palm oil and its derivatives. Some common ones include Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Palmitate, and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (in non-food items). Look for these in everything from spreads to shampoos.
Cook at Home: Making your own meals from scratch gives you full control over the ingredients. You can easily substitute palm oil with healthier alternatives like olive, sunflower, or avocado oil.
Use Apps and Online Resources: Utilize resources like the Palm Oil Detectives website, which lists brands and products that are palm oil-free or use sustainable options. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo also has a resource for palm oil education.
Support Companies with Transparent Policies: If a company explicitly states its use of certified sustainable palm oil or provides transparent sourcing information, it shows a commitment to ethical practices. You can also consult resources like the WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard to see how brands rank.

Conclusion

Making the decision to reduce or eliminate palm oil from your diet is a powerful step toward a more ethical and health-conscious lifestyle. While ubiquitous, palm oil can be avoided with careful label-reading and by choosing brands dedicated to transparency and sustainable practices. By supporting the brands that do not use palm oil or instead choose alternatives, you can enjoy a healthier nutrition diet while also contributing to a more positive environmental impact. The availability of resources and growing list of alternatives makes transitioning to a palm oil-free lifestyle more accessible than ever before. For a list of healthy, heart-friendly cooking oils, the American Heart Association offers valuable guidance on making smarter choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Palm oil is popular because it is a very efficient, high-yielding crop, making it cheaper than many other vegetable oils. It is also semi-solid at room temperature, which gives products like cookies, crackers, and margarine a desirable texture and extends shelf life.

It can be difficult, as regulations in many countries do not require specific labeling. One indicator is high saturated fat content, especially in a processed product that lists 'vegetable oil'. Checking a brand’s website or contacting customer service for their ingredient sourcing policy is the most reliable method.

Yes, all crops have an environmental footprint. While palm oil is uniquely high-yielding per hectare, alternatives like soybean or coconut oil would require significantly more land to produce the same volume, potentially shifting environmental pressures elsewhere. This is why some advocate for certified sustainable palm oil over a complete boycott.

Palm oil-free means the product contains no palm oil at all. Sustainably sourced palm oil, often certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), means the palm oil used by the company is sourced from plantations that adhere to certain environmental and social criteria. Some consumers prefer a total boycott, while others support sustainable production.

Healthy alternatives include extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, and canola oil, which contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats. Other options like sunflower oil, rice bran oil, and coconut oil are also common alternatives, with varying fat profiles.

Several chocolate brands have made commitments to be palm oil-free. Examples include Moo Free, Ombar, Seed and Bean, and Tony's Chocolonely, though it is always best to check the specific product label.

No. While many do, a growing number of brands are palm oil-free. Ethical brands in this space, such as Ethique and Fat and the Moon, offer options for those who want to avoid it in their personal and household products. Look for brands that explicitly state their products are palm oil-free.