Which Indian biscuit does not have palm oil?

December 22, 2025 •

3 min read

Did you know that palm oil is found in nearly 50% of all packaged supermarket products, including many popular Indian biscuits? For those seeking alternatives, identifying which Indian biscuit does not have palm oil requires careful label reading and knowledge of conscious brands.

Quick Summary

Many mainstream Indian biscuits contain palm oil due to its versatility and low cost. Identify organic and health-conscious brands using alternatives like ghee, butter, or canola oil.

Key Points

Check Organic and Health Food Brands: Mainstream biscuit brands commonly use palm oil, but organic and niche Indian companies frequently use alternatives like ghee or sunflower oil.
Scrutinize Ingredient Labels: Many products list palm oil ambiguously as "edible vegetable oil" or "shortening," making label reading critical.
Seek Specific Brands: Confirmed palm oil-free options include certain products from brands like Elworld Organics, Wellbe Foods, and Zerobeli.
Consider Homemade Biscuits: Baking your own biscuits with ghee, butter, or healthy oils is the most reliable way to ensure a palm oil-free product.
Recognize Hidden Palm Oil: Look for ingredients like "vegetable fat," "palm kernel oil," or certain emulsifiers that may indicate the presence of palm oil derivatives.

Why Palm Oil is so Common in Indian Biscuits

Palm oil is a cost-effective, versatile, and functional ingredient widely used in the food industry. For biscuit manufacturers, it offers several benefits, including imparting a smooth texture, extending shelf life due to its resistance to oxidation, and remaining semi-solid at room temperature. However, for many consumers, concerns regarding health and environmental impact have driven a search for palm oil-free alternatives.

The Problem with Ingredient Labels

One of the main challenges for consumers in India is that ingredient labels can be confusing. Manufacturers are sometimes permitted to list "edible vegetable oil" or "shortening" without specifying the exact type, which often conceals the presence of palm oil. For those committed to avoiding this ingredient, a proactive approach is necessary, focusing on brands that explicitly state their use of alternatives.

Categories of Palm Oil-Free Biscuits

While most mainstream brands use palm oil, alternatives can be found in specific market segments. These include:

Organic Food Brands: These companies often have stricter ingredient sourcing policies and voluntarily avoid palm oil, replacing it with organic alternatives.
Niche and Health Food Brands: Smaller, health-focused brands specifically market their products as free from unhealthy fats and artificial additives.
Homemade Biscuits: Making biscuits at home provides full control over ingredients, guaranteeing no palm oil is used.

Indian Biscuits and Brands that Avoid Palm Oil

Fortunately, a growing number of Indian brands cater to conscious consumers by offering palm oil-free products. These companies often highlight their use of healthier, more sustainable alternatives like ghee, butter, sunflower oil, or coconut oil.

Elworld Organics: This brand specifies using organic mustard oil, sunflower oil, or ghee as alternatives across its organic food range.
Wellbe Foods: Wellbe uses organic sunflower oil, coconut oil, and groundnut oil, all of which are cold-pressed.
Zerobeli: As advertised on platforms like Flipkart, Zerobeli's Wholegrain Jowar Jeera Biscuits are made with canola oil and are free from palm oil.
Suryan Organic: This company, operating under the brand SOSE, uses organic sunflower oil in its organic food products.
Altitude Everydays: A Delhi-based brand, Altitude Everydays utilizes organic sunflower oil, olive oil, and mustard oil as its fat sources.

Remember to always check the packaging, as product formulations can change over time. Many smaller, regional organic bakeries or home bakers may also offer fantastic palm oil-free options.

A Comparison of Fat Sources in Biscuits

To better understand the differences, here is a comparison of typical mass-market biscuits and their palm oil-free counterparts.


Feature	Typical Mass-Market Biscuit	Palm Oil-Free Biscuit Alternative
Primary Fat Source	Palm oil, often listed generically as "edible vegetable oil".	Ghee, butter, sunflower oil, coconut oil, or canola oil.
Texture	Crispy, but can sometimes feel greasy due to the fat type.	Often a richer, more buttery flavour and texture, depending on the fat used.
Shelf Life	Extended shelf life due to palm oil's stability.	May have a slightly shorter shelf life, though still perfectly suitable for consumption within a reasonable timeframe.
Cost	Generally lower, as palm oil is a cheaper ingredient.	Typically higher, reflecting the cost of premium, organic, or specialty fats.
Environmental Impact	Often associated with deforestation and habitat loss.	Brands often prioritize sustainable and eco-friendly sourcing.

The Role of Homemade Biscuits

For those who prefer complete transparency and control over their ingredients, making biscuits at home is the best solution. Countless Indian recipes for traditional biscuits like Nankhatai or Jeera Biscuits use ghee, butter, or healthier vegetable oils. This not only guarantees a palm oil-free product but also allows for customisation with healthier ingredients like whole wheat flour, millets, and jaggery.

How to Identify Palm Oil on an Ingredient List

When scanning ingredient lists, be aware that palm oil may appear under many different names, including:

Palm Kernel Oil
Palmitic Acid
Vegetable Oil (unless specified)
Vegetable Fat
Emulsifier (e.g., E471), which can be palm oil-derived

Conclusion: Making Informed Choices

Finding an Indian biscuit that does not contain palm oil is achievable with a bit of knowledge and diligence. While many mainstream products rely on this ingredient, the market offers several high-quality alternatives from organic and specialty brands. By scrutinising ingredient labels, focusing on brands with transparent sourcing policies, or even baking your own, you can easily find delicious palm oil-free biscuits. For more information on why avoiding palm oil can be beneficial for health and the environment, you can explore resources like the WWF's page on sustainable palm oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Manufacturers use palm oil because it is cost-effective, versatile, and helps to extend the product's shelf life. It also provides a semi-solid fat that creates a desirable texture in biscuits.

In many cases, yes. The term 'edible vegetable oil' or 'vegetable fat' is often used to generically refer to palm oil or its derivatives, especially when it is a primary ingredient in snacks like biscuits.

While many organic brands explicitly avoid palm oil, it is still important to check the label. Certified organic products generally adhere to stricter sourcing guidelines and list alternatives such as organic sunflower oil or ghee.

Alternatives include butter, ghee, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil. Many organic or homemade recipes use these healthier and often more sustainable fat sources.

You can find palm oil-free options from specialised online stores for health foods, organic brands like Elworld and Wellbe, and potentially at local organic food markets or smaller bakeries.

Yes, absolutely. Baking biscuits at home allows for complete control over ingredients, with recipes often calling for ghee or butter as the fat source, ensuring they are palm oil-free.

Yes. The mass production of palm oil has been linked to significant deforestation and habitat destruction in certain regions, harming endangered species. Choosing products with alternative fats helps reduce demand for non-sustainable palm oil.