Palm Oil: Affecting your health, destroying the plant

Palm Oil: Affecting your health, destroying the plant

Why We’re Talking About Palm Oil

Palm oil is one of the most widely used ingredients in packaged foods: from cookies and chips to instant noodles. It’s cheap, versatile, and found in nearly half of all products on supermarket shelves. But what many consumers don’t realise is that the environmental and health costs of palm oil are much higher than its price tag suggests.

As a brand that values both taste and transparency, we believe it’s important to shed light on what palm oil really means for our planet and our bodies and what we’re doing to make a difference.

How Palm Oil Fuels Global Warming

The palm oil industry has become a major driver of deforestation, especially in tropical regions like Indonesia and Malaysia, where vast rainforests are cleared to make way for palm plantations.

This deforestation contributes to climate change in several key ways:

• Massive carbon emissions: Trees naturally store carbon. When forests are cut or burned, that carbon is released into the atmosphere, fueling global warming.

• Loss of biodiversity: The destruction of rainforests threatens species like orangutans, tigers and rhinos, disrupting entire ecosystems.

• Peatland destruction: Palm plantations often drain peatlands, which are powerful carbon sinks. Once disturbed, they release even more CO₂ than deforestation alone.

In short: the growing demand for palm oil is directly linked to rising greenhouse gas emissions and the loss of crucial wildlife habitats.

Palm Oil and Your Health

Beyond its environmental cost, palm oil can also pose health risks when used excessively or in highly processed forms.

• High in saturated fats: Palm oil contains around 50% saturated fat, which can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease.

• Refined and processed: During the refining process, palm oil can generate potentially harmful compounds, such as 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters, which have been linked to health concerns when consumed in large amounts.

• Hidden in everyday foods: Because palm oil is so common, many people unknowingly consume it daily, even in foods labeled as “vegetable oil.”

While moderate use of unrefined or sustainably sourced palm oil isn’t inherently dangerous, the problem lies in its overuse and industrial-scale production.

A Better Future: Sustainable Alternatives

At Noods, we’re committed to doing better. That means exploring palm oil–free recipes, sourcing ingredients from ethical, sustainable suppliers, and creating foods that are kinder to both your body and the planet.

Our approach focuses on:

• Using alternative oils like sunflower or canola oil, which have a lower environmental footprint.

• Supporting sustainable agriculture that avoids deforestation and promotes biodiversity.

• Being transparent about what goes into every noodle we make.

Choosing brands that prioritize sustainability is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways consumers can drive change.

Why Noods Says No to Palm Oil

At Noods, we believe noodles should be good for you and the planet. That’s why we never use palm oil, unlike many of our competitors.

We’ve built our recipes around cleaner, plant-based oils that deliver the same crave-worthy texture and flavour without compromising your health or the environment. We also pre-steam our noodles instead of pre-frying them, a common method in the instant noodle industry. By cutting out palm oil entirely, Noods helps:

• Reduce deforestation and protect wildlife habitats.

• Lower carbon emissions linked to global palm oil farming.

• Support heart health, by avoiding oils high in saturated fats.

It’s a small change with a big impact. When you slurp a bowl of Noods, you’re choosing a noodle that’s better for you and for the Earth.

The Takeaway

Palm oil may be cheap and convenient, but its true cost, to the Earth and our health, is far too high. By learning about its impact and making conscious choices, we can all play a role in reducing demand and protecting our shared home.

At Noods, we believe delicious food should never come at the planet’s expense. Together, we can build a future where every bite supports a healthier, more sustainable world.