What biscuits don't have palm oil? Your complete guide to palm oil-free options

January 5, 2026 •

4 min read

It is estimated that around 90% of sweet biscuits in the UK contain palm oil, often concealed under generic terms like 'vegetable oil'. Finding out what biscuits don't have palm oil can be challenging, but a growing number of brands are offering ethical and eco-friendly alternatives.

Quick Summary

This guide helps you navigate ingredient labels to identify palm oil and its derivatives while highlighting specific brands that offer palm oil-free biscuits. It also covers the environmental and health reasons for seeking alternatives and provides tips for creating your own sustainable baked goods at home.

Key Points

Check Labels for Aliases: Palm oil is often hidden under generic terms like 'vegetable oil' or chemical-sounding derivatives such as 'palmitate' or emulsifier numbers like E471.
Look for Specific Brands: Opt for brands like Mr Organic, Island Bakery, or Lazy Day, which are known for their commitment to palm oil-free biscuits, particularly in the UK market.
Consider Health and Environment: Avoiding palm oil can be beneficial for both environmental reasons (combating deforestation and protecting wildlife like orangutans) and personal health due to its high saturated fat content.
Analyze Saturated Fat: If a biscuit lists 'vegetable oil' and has high saturated fat, it's likely made with palm oil.
Bake Your Own Biscuits: For a guaranteed palm oil-free treat, use alternative fats like butter, coconut oil, or sunflower oil in homemade recipes.
Seek Specific Certifications: Look for clear 'palm oil-free' certifications or check brand websites for their sourcing policies.

Understanding the Issue: Why Avoid Palm Oil?

Palm oil is a highly efficient and versatile vegetable fat, making it a common ingredient in many processed foods, including a vast majority of biscuits. Its widespread use, however, is not without significant consequences, affecting both environmental and health spheres.

The Environmental Cost of Palm Oil

Mass production of palm oil has led to devastating environmental destruction, particularly in Southeast Asia where tropical lowland rainforests are cleared to make way for palm oil plantations. This deforestation has dire consequences for biodiversity and endangered species. A primary victim is the orangutan, whose habitat is being destroyed at an alarming rate, pushing them closer to extinction. The 'slash-and-burn' clearing method also releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing significantly to climate change. While there are certifications like the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), some critics argue these standards are not always rigorously enforced or effective.

Health Considerations

From a health perspective, palm oil is high in saturated fat. While often used as a replacement for trans fats in processed foods, studies suggest that high consumption of saturated fat can increase LDL ('bad') cholesterol levels, potentially raising the risk of heart disease and stroke. For individuals with specific dietary concerns, knowing how to find palm oil-free biscuits is crucial for managing their saturated fat intake.

How to Identify Hidden Palm Oil on Labels

One of the main challenges for consumers is that food labeling laws do not always require explicit mention of 'palm oil'. It can be disguised under several aliases, making careful label reading essential for those who wish to avoid it.

Common Names for Palm Oil and Derivatives

Vegetable Oil: Unless a specific source like sunflower or rapeseed is listed, this generic term can often mean palm oil, especially in products with high saturated fat content.
Anything with 'Palm': This is the most obvious indicator, including palm kernel oil, palm olein, and palmitic acid.
Fatty Acid Derivatives: Look for ingredients with terms like 'palmitate', 'laurate', or 'stearate'. This can include things like Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate or Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate.
Emulsifiers and Surfactants: Common E-numbers and chemical names can indicate palm oil origin. For example, Emulsifier 471 is often palm-derived.
Glycerine and Glycols: Ingredients like Glycerol, Glycol Distearate, and Polyethylene Glycol can also be made from palm oil.

A useful tip is to check the saturated fat percentage. If a product with generic 'vegetable oil' has a high saturated fat content (over 40% of its total fat), there is a high probability it contains palm oil.

Biscuits Brands That Don't Use Palm Oil

Fortunately, a growing number of companies are committed to producing biscuits free from palm oil. These brands provide more ethical and often healthier choices for consumers.

Notable Palm Oil-Free Biscuit Brands

Mr Organic: A standout brand in ethical consumerism, all Mr Organic biscuits are palm oil-free and vegan.
Island Bakery Organics: This company offers a range of palm oil-free biscuits and oatcakes, excluding their Sweet F.A biscuits.
Amisa: Under the Windmill Organics umbrella, all Amisa biscuits are palm oil-free and often available through specialist retailers.
Lazy Day: A good option for those seeking allergen-free biscuits, Lazy Day's products are palm oil-free.
Biona: Another brand from Windmill Organics, Biona offers palm oil-free crispbreads and cakes.
Nairn's Organic Oatcakes: While some of their standard products contain RSPO certified palm oil, their organic oatcakes are a palm oil-free alternative.

Comparison of Palm Oil-Free Biscuits


Feature	Mr Organic	Island Bakery	Lazy Day	Standard Supermarket Biscuit
Palm Oil Status	Palm Oil-Free	Palm Oil-Free (check specific products)	Palm Oil-Free	Typically Contains Palm Oil
Availability	Ethical stores, online	Ethical stores, online	Supermarkets (allergens)	Widespread
Key Ingredients	Organic flour, sunflower oil	Organic flour, butter, sunflower oil	Gluten-free flour, vegan butter	Wheat flour, vegetable oil (often palm)
Vegan Options	Yes	Yes (Sweet F.A range is vegan)	Yes	Often not vegan
Taste Profile	Classic, organic	Rich, buttery (non-vegan), quality	Allergen-free, varied	Wide range, often sweeter

Making Your Own Palm Oil-Free Biscuits

For complete control over ingredients and to guarantee a palm oil-free product, baking your own biscuits is the best option. Many simple recipes use alternatives that are readily available and can be customized to your taste. Common substitutes for palm oil and palm shortening include:

Butter: For a rich, buttery flavor, traditional dairy butter or high-quality vegan butter can be used.
Coconut Oil: Can be used as a solid fat in recipes, offering a distinct flavor. Solid coconut oil should be chilled before use.
Sunflower Oil or Rapeseed Oil: These liquid oils can replace palm oil in some recipes, though they may change the texture.
Lard: For non-vegan recipes, lard is a traditional shortening that works well for flaky textures.

By exploring homemade options, you can experiment with healthier flours, natural sweeteners, and various flavor combinations while ensuring no palm oil is used in the process.

Conclusion

Finding biscuits that don't have palm oil requires careful label reading and knowledge of alternative brands. Environmental and health concerns have driven a demand for more ethical options, and fortunately, there are now several reliable palm oil-free choices on the market from brands like Mr Organic, Island Bakery, and Lazy Day. For those who prefer total control, baking at home with alternatives such as butter, coconut oil, or other liquid vegetable oils is a rewarding path to ensuring your treats are entirely free from this controversial ingredient. By choosing palm oil-free biscuits, consumers can make a positive impact on the environment and their own health. To stay updated on ethical food choices, resources like Ethical Consumer are invaluable.

Ethical Consumer

Frequently Asked Questions

Palm oil is a cheap, versatile fat that gives biscuits a specific texture and helps increase their shelf life. Its high efficiency in production also makes it attractive to large food manufacturers.

Yes, palm oil comes from the fleshy fruit of the oil palm, while palm kernel oil is extracted from the seed or kernel. Both are high in saturated fat and associated with similar environmental concerns.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification is meant to ensure that palm oil is sourced from less-destructive practices. However, some critics claim the standards are not always effective, and many prefer to avoid palm oil entirely.

Primary impacts include mass deforestation, habitat destruction for endangered species like orangutans, and significant greenhouse gas emissions from forest clearing.

No, liquid oils like sunflower oil behave differently than solid fats like palm oil or shortening. Substituting may require adjusting other ingredients to achieve the desired texture, so it is best to use a recipe specifically developed with an alternative fat.

The main health concern stems from its high saturated fat content, which can increase LDL ('bad') cholesterol levels and potentially raise the risk of heart disease.

Often, yes. Brands that use alternative, higher-quality fats or operate on a smaller scale may have higher production costs, which can translate to a higher retail price. However, prices vary by brand and product type.