What Ice Cream Is Palm Oil Free? Top Brands and Buying Tips

January 11, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the World Wildlife Fund, palm oil is found in nearly half of all packaged products, but many top ice cream brands have eliminated it from their recipes. This guide will help you discover what ice cream is palm oil free, highlighting brands that prioritize cleaner ingredients and sustainable sourcing.

Quick Summary

Several prominent ice cream brands have committed to removing palm oil and its derivatives from their recipes. Many brands, including some organic and vegan options, use simple, high-quality ingredients to achieve a creamy texture without relying on palm oil. Consumers can check labels for specific brands and ingredient lists to make informed choices.

Key Points

Check Brand Reputation: Brands like Häagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry's have confirmed they are palm oil free, making them safe choices.
Read Ingredient Labels Carefully: Look for hidden palm oil names such as 'vegetable fat,' 'mono- and diglycerides,' and 'stearic acid'.
Look for Certified Sustainable Logos: The Rainforest Alliance logo indicates that the company is taking steps toward more sustainable practices.
Consider Organic and Small-Batch Options: Organic brands like Alden's are more likely to use cleaner ingredients and avoid palm oil.
Try Homemade Recipes: For absolute certainty, making ice cream at home with a simple cream or coconut milk base is the best option.
Support Ethical Brands: Daily Fresh Ice Creams is an example of a brand that builds its entire identity around being 100% palm oil free.

Why Choose Palm Oil Free Ice Cream?

The demand for palm oil free products has grown significantly, driven by environmental and health concerns. Palm oil production is linked to deforestation, habitat loss for endangered species like orangutans, and significant greenhouse gas emissions. By choosing ice cream without palm oil, you support brands that are committed to more sustainable practices and transparent ingredient sourcing.

Environmental and Ethical Concerns

Deforestation: The expansion of palm oil plantations is a major driver of deforestation in Southeast Asia, leading to critical habitat destruction.
Biodiversity Loss: This deforestation threatens endangered species, including orangutans, tigers, and rhinos, pushing them closer to extinction.
Healthier Ingredients: Some consumers prefer to avoid palm oil due to its high saturated fat content and the use of cheaper, less natural ingredients.

Leading Palm Oil Free Ice Cream Brands

Many brands now explicitly state their commitment to being palm oil free, using alternative, high-quality fats and stabilizers to create delicious frozen treats. Here are some of the most recognized options:

Häagen-Dazs: Known for its simple, high-quality ingredients, Häagen-Dazs explicitly states that it does not use palm oil in its recipes, instead relying on real cream, milk, sugar, and eggs. This commitment extends across its core product lines.
Ben & Jerry's: After a company-wide initiative, Ben & Jerry's transitioned its entire global portfolio to be palm oil free as of 2017. While the ice cream base never contained palm oil, the company also removed it from any inclusions like chunks or swirls.
Alden's Organic: This brand offers a variety of organic ice creams and sources ingredients carefully, with products being explicitly palm oil free.
Daily Fresh Ice Creams: This brand prides itself on offering a 100% Zero Palm Oil ice cream range, emphasizing cleaner, more natural ingredients for a premium product.
Van Leeuwen: Known for its high-quality, artisanal ice cream, Van Leeuwen uses a base of milk, cream, sugar, and egg yolks, avoiding palm oil.
Halo Top: Many of this brand's options, which focus on lower calories and higher protein, are made without palm oil. Always check specific product labels, as ingredients can vary between flavors.

How to Identify Palm Oil on Ingredient Labels

While some companies are transparent, others may use less obvious names for palm oil and its derivatives. Being a savvy shopper means knowing what to look for on the ingredient list. The following is a list of common hidden names for palm oil:

Common Derivatives: Mono- and diglycerides, often used as emulsifiers, can be derived from palm oil.
Alternative Fats: Look for vegetable oil blends, vegetable fat, or even specific products like palm kernel oil.
Chemical Prefixes: According to Palm Oil Detectives, watch out for the prefixes "laur," "stear," "glyc," and "palm," which indicate palm-derived ingredients.

Commonly Misleading Terms on Labels


Ambiguous Term	Does it contain palm oil?	Alternative Name for Palm Oil	What to look for instead
Vegetable Oil	Often, yes	Can be a blend that includes palm oil	Specific oil like sunflower, canola, or coconut oil listed clearly.
Mono- and Diglycerides	Can be, but not always	Emulsifier often derived from palm oil	Brands that specify plant-based sources or use alternatives like lecithin.
Palm Kernel Oil	Yes	A derivative of palm oil	Look for products that list specific, non-palm fats.
Stearic Acid	Can be	Fatty acid derived from palm oil	Check for clarification on the ingredient source.

Delicious Homemade Options

For ultimate control over ingredients, making ice cream at home is the best route. You can use simple, wholesome ingredients and avoid any hidden additives. Here are some ideas for creating your own palm oil free ice cream:

Classic Cream Base: Use heavy cream, milk, sugar, and egg yolks for a rich, traditional base. Experiment with different flavorings like vanilla bean, fruit purees, or chocolate.
Coconut Milk Ice Cream: For a dairy-free and naturally palm oil free alternative, use full-fat coconut milk as the base. This results in a creamy, flavorful frozen dessert.
Banana 'Nice Cream': A quick and simple option involves blending frozen bananas until they reach a soft-serve consistency. Add cocoa powder, nuts, or spices for extra flavor.

Where to Find Sustainable Options

Beyond checking the labels, ethical consumerism is about supporting brands with strong sustainability commitments. Look for information on a company's website or check resources like the Rainforest Alliance and Ethical Consumer to see which brands are transparent about their sourcing. Opting for local, small-batch ice cream makers is another great way to find products with simple, high-quality ingredients.

Conclusion

Choosing palm oil free ice cream is an easy and impactful step toward more conscious consumerism. With brands like Häagen-Dazs, Ben & Jerry's, and Alden's Organic leading the way, it is increasingly simple to find delicious options without the environmental baggage. By learning to read labels and supporting companies with transparent sourcing, you can enjoy a guilt-free treat that's better for both you and the planet.

Disclaimer: While this article provides extensive guidance, ingredient formulations can change. Always check the most current label before purchasing to ensure the product meets your dietary and ethical preferences.

Vegan Palm Oil Free Options

For those following a vegan diet, finding palm oil free options is also possible. Many vegan ice cream brands avoid palm oil due to their commitment to animal welfare and sustainability. Brands like Daily Fresh and Ben & Jerry's vegan lines offer delicious dairy-free options made without palm oil. Additionally, homemade vegan ice cream recipes often use bases like coconut milk, cashews, or bananas, all of which are naturally palm oil free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Häagen-Dazs states that it does not use palm oil in its ice cream, relying instead on simple, quality ingredients like real cream, milk, sugar, and eggs.

No, Ben & Jerry's has not used palm oil in its products since 2017, when it removed any traces of the oil from chunks and swirls in its recipes.

You can look for common alternative names such as 'vegetable oil' (without a specific source), 'glyceryl stearate,' 'mono- and diglycerides,' and ingredient prefixes like 'laur' or 'stear'.

No, not all organic brands are automatically palm oil free. While many prioritize cleaner ingredients, it's always best to read the label to confirm. Brands like Alden's Organic are a safe bet.

Palm oil is a cheap and highly efficient vegetable oil, which makes it an attractive ingredient for food manufacturers. It is used as a stabilizer, emulsifier, and texturizer.

Yes, coconut oil is an excellent alternative. Many vegan and dairy-free ice creams use full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream to achieve a creamy texture without using palm oil.

The primary environmental concern is deforestation. The expansion of palm oil plantations leads to the destruction of rainforests, loss of biodiversity, and impacts the climate due to greenhouse gas emissions from clearing land.

Yes, making homemade ice cream allows for complete control over ingredients. Using a simple base of cream and milk or a dairy-free alternative like coconut milk ensures it is palm oil free.