Jess Panazzolo beside a palm oil plant at the Adelaide Botanical Garden. Picture: Matt Turner Source: AdelaideNow

16/08/2012 (Herald Sun) - A young university student is leading a brave campaign against the use of a popular cooking ingredient by one of Australia's largest fast-food chains.

More than 7000 people have signed the 19-year-old Flinders University student Jess Panazzolo's petition at Change.org, which calls for sandwich-maker Subway to stop using palm oil.

Each signature sends an email to senior Australian Subway executives.

Ms Panazzolo, who has worked part-time at Subway for the past two years, plans to tackle company executives directly in the coming days.

Her petition has only been going for a fortnight.

Palm oil has been linked to rampant deforestation and habitat loss in countries such as Malaysia and  Indonesia.

"I have been passionate about primates and the environment since I was three," said Ms Panazzolo who studies biodiversity and conservation.

Subway says it aims to use sustainably sourced palm oil.

However, the company admits the availability of certified sustainable palm oil is "very limited."