New Delhi:
PepsiCo, the brand that owns the famous Lay's chips, has started trials to replace palm oil in some of its products with a mixture of sunflower oil and palm olein oil. The development emerged following a post by social media influencer Revant Himatsingka on the food giant's decision to reduce the use of palm oil in its chips.
“Big win! Lay's India will reduce the use of palm oil… After Lay's stops using palm oil, it will also put pressure on all other brands such as Bingo and Haldiram to potentially replace palm oil!” he wrote on X.
However, PepsiCo told NDTV that the trials started last year. “PepsiCo India started trials of a blend of sunflower oil and palm olein oil in certain parts of our portfolio last year, becoming one of the few food industry players in India to do so,” the PepsiCo India spokesperson said in a statement .
“PepsiCo is committed to producing high-quality, great-tasting products in every market we serve. There are often different recipes for foods or beverages in different countries, which is attributed to various factors such as local preferences, production capabilities and ingredient availability . and market dynamics. Ingredients are listed on every product we sell in India, helping consumers make informed decisions about their purchases,” it added.
Mr. Himatsingka also pointed to another video of his that highlighted that PepsiCo uses palm oil in the Indian product but not in the American ones.
Big win! Lay's India will reduce the use of palm oil!
Last month I made a video showing how Lay's India uses palm oil, but Lay's USA doesn't use palm oil!
After much public pressure, Lays India has made a public statement that they have begun the process of replacing palm oil in… pic.twitter.com/qAJOUdNxhV
— Revant Himatsingka “Food Pharmer” (@foodpharmer2) May 9, 2024
PepsiCo uses 'heart-healthy' oil in American products
On the US website, the company says its chips are cooked in oils that can be considered 'heart healthy' because they contain at least '80% unsaturated fat, less than 20% saturated fat and 0 grams of trans fat'. Sunflower, corn and canola oils contain “good mono- and polyunsaturated fats, which can help lower LDL bad” cholesterol and maintain HDL good “cholesterol levels as part of a calorie-restricted diet,” the report said .
Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil extracted from the reddish flesh of oil palms. The oil is used in food production, in beauty products and as a biofuel. Its use has raised concerns from environmental and human rights groups, as the palm oil industry is a major contributor to deforestation in the tropics where palms are grown, and has been cited as a factor in social problems due to allegations of human rights abuses among growers. .
Asian buyers have traditionally relied on palm oil due to its low cost, but recently concerns have been raised about its use due to its high saturated fat content. About 50% of palm oil consists of saturated fat and high intake of this type of fat can increase LDL or 'bad' cholesterol levels in the blood.
Difference between palm oil and palm olein
Although palm oil and palm olein are produced from the same plant, the main difference is their chemical state at room temperature. Semi-solid palm oil is more commonly used as a fat in bakery products, while liquid palm olein is considered the “gold standard” and is the most commonly used oil for frying in the world.
sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is often called a healthy oil because it contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential fats that are beneficial for heart health. It is also one of the best dietary sources of vitamin E. However, according to several studies, varying oil consumption with other varieties such as olives, avocado and canola can provide a better nutritional balance.
Nutritional guidelines from the highest medical body
The development comes close to a set of 17 dietary guidelines from the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN). It calls for moderating oil and fat intake and choosing a variety of oilseeds, nuts, nutri-grains and legumes to meet daily needs for fats and essential fatty acids (EFA).