Thanks to the folks over at EcoLocalizer for bringing a recent ad campaign by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council to our attention.
Palm oil is a common ingredient in food and cosmetics, and is sometimes used as a substitute for hydrogenated oil. Using Palm oil makes food trans fat-free, however palm oil is still a saturated fat, which is bad for you. In fact, last April some Girl Guides in Michigan refused to sell Girl Guide cookies because they contained palm oil.
Unfortunately, according to many sources, palm oil can be extremely destructive to rain forests, as the diverse forest is cut down or burned for palm tree plantations. Palm Oil is also considered to be "the greatest current threat to Orangutans" according to the Australian Orangutan Project, since palm oil plantations are replacing their rainforest habitat.
