Products including palm oil to be investigated: Agriculture Minister Çelik

ISTANBUL

AA photo

Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Faruk Çelik has said his office has launched work to detect food thought to include palm oil in its ingredients, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

The ministry issued a statement on Jan. 15 after media reports on controversial palm oil, saying it was considered necessary to conduct an investigation based on public health concerns.   

“The results of the investigation will be released to the public and necessary administrative measurements will be taken according to scientific work. The ultimate protection of consumer health on food is among the chief goals,” it stated.

Çelik said regulations about palm oil were defined by the Turkish Food Codex Communique on “Plant oils mentioned by name,” adding that the communique was prepared “based on national and international scientific work and data.” 

“All of the checks were performed by the ministry, and palm oil is commonly used in the food industry all over the world,” he said, adding that no countries had yet banned palm oil.

Lovers of chocolate spread were shocked by news on Jan. 11 that an ingredient in Nutella - processed palm oil - could potentially cause cancer, prompting the removal of products from store shelves containing. 

Meanwhile, chocolate products manufacturer Ferrero, which produces Nutella, denied the reports through a written statement.

The company stated that Nutella products were not removed from supermarket shelves in most of the world, but only Italian supermarket chain “Coop” had removed its own products that include palm oil.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) had announced that its latest study found that palm oil, which is refined at high temperatures of around 200 degrees Celsius, was more dangerous than other herbal oils.