MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Palm Oil Sector Views Issue Of Process Contaminants Seriously, Says MPOC
Palm Oil Sector Views Issue Of Process Contaminants Seriously, Says MPOC
03/02/2017 (Bernama) - The palm oil industry views seriously the issue of process contaminants that affect all refined vegetable oils although the actual risk to human health has yet to be clearly defined.
Malaysian Palm Oil Council's (MPOC) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kalyana Sundram, said various measures were in place to closely monitor and take actions to reduce the level of process contaminants in palm oil.
"This is following the European Food Safety Authority's report on higher content of 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD) and glycidyl fatty acid esters (GE) in palm oil as compared with other vegetable oils, making it more carcinogenic.
“It occurs in olive, soya, rapeseed, corn, sunflower and in palm oils as well. This knowledge triggered a lengthy period of evaluation not only in Europe but also at our own Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) laboratories,” he said.
He said the 3-MCPD and GE were not found in the raw oil but when it was heated above 200 degrees celsius, a process that was common in processed food industry.
“(However) in the near future, palm oil produced in Malaysia will be free of these contaminants,” he said in response to a recent media report on consumption of Nutella, which uses palm oil as its major ingredient of causing cancer.
Kalyana said the palm oil industry was already actively engaged with FEDIOL, the European vegetable oil and protein meal industry association in addressing the level of contaminants in all fats and oils.
“MPOB has previously published its findings in scientific journals and acknowledged the higher content of these compounds in palm oil compared with other oils and fats due to several fold, starting from cultivation due to soil conditions through to final processing and refining,” he said.
He said the Malaysian palm oil industry initiated a focused dialogue among plantations, millers, refiners and end-users whereby they had collectively agreed to work towards adoption of production and processing technologies that aimed to reduce or eliminate these contaminants in palm oil.
A special allocation to assist in technology adoption to help reduce or eliminate these contaminants in palm oil was granted through the Malaysian government, he said.
“We are currently executing measures to tackle these contaminants and possibly be ahead of all other edible oils in eliminating their occurrence in Malaysian palm oil,” said Kalyana.
As a first step and since palm oil is used in several leading infant food formulations, the occurrence of these contaminants was voluntarily reduced or eliminated in palm oil intended for infant formulations, he said.
He said MPOC reiterated that the Malaysian palm oil industry viewed the occurrence of the contaminants 3 MCPD and GE with much concern, although the actual risk to human health has yet to be clearly defined, and appeared small in light of the accumulated data of potential exposures through foods.
“Meanwhile, we ask refrain from reference to palm oil and its association with cancer. There is no scientific evidence for these accusations,” he said.
On the other hand, he said, palm oil was endowed with naturally occurring nutritional minor constituents including the tocotrienols, carotenes and phenolics.
“These have proven nutritional benefits including in stroke prevention, as antioxidants and even as anti-cancer agents. Some of these compounds are being tested for their potential anti-cancer and health benefits.
“Our industry succeeds only when consumers trust that what they buy is healthy, sustainable and, above all, safe. The safety and quality assurance of our products remains of the highest priority,” he added. – Bernama
Malaysian Palm Oil Council's (MPOC) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kalyana Sundram, said various measures were in place to closely monitor and take actions to reduce the level of process contaminants in palm oil.
"This is following the European Food Safety Authority's report on higher content of 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD) and glycidyl fatty acid esters (GE) in palm oil as compared with other vegetable oils, making it more carcinogenic.
“It occurs in olive, soya, rapeseed, corn, sunflower and in palm oils as well. This knowledge triggered a lengthy period of evaluation not only in Europe but also at our own Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) laboratories,” he said.
He said the 3-MCPD and GE were not found in the raw oil but when it was heated above 200 degrees celsius, a process that was common in processed food industry.
“(However) in the near future, palm oil produced in Malaysia will be free of these contaminants,” he said in response to a recent media report on consumption of Nutella, which uses palm oil as its major ingredient of causing cancer.
Kalyana said the palm oil industry was already actively engaged with FEDIOL, the European vegetable oil and protein meal industry association in addressing the level of contaminants in all fats and oils.
“MPOB has previously published its findings in scientific journals and acknowledged the higher content of these compounds in palm oil compared with other oils and fats due to several fold, starting from cultivation due to soil conditions through to final processing and refining,” he said.
He said the Malaysian palm oil industry initiated a focused dialogue among plantations, millers, refiners and end-users whereby they had collectively agreed to work towards adoption of production and processing technologies that aimed to reduce or eliminate these contaminants in palm oil.
A special allocation to assist in technology adoption to help reduce or eliminate these contaminants in palm oil was granted through the Malaysian government, he said.
“We are currently executing measures to tackle these contaminants and possibly be ahead of all other edible oils in eliminating their occurrence in Malaysian palm oil,” said Kalyana.
As a first step and since palm oil is used in several leading infant food formulations, the occurrence of these contaminants was voluntarily reduced or eliminated in palm oil intended for infant formulations, he said.
He said MPOC reiterated that the Malaysian palm oil industry viewed the occurrence of the contaminants 3 MCPD and GE with much concern, although the actual risk to human health has yet to be clearly defined, and appeared small in light of the accumulated data of potential exposures through foods.
“Meanwhile, we ask refrain from reference to palm oil and its association with cancer. There is no scientific evidence for these accusations,” he said.
On the other hand, he said, palm oil was endowed with naturally occurring nutritional minor constituents including the tocotrienols, carotenes and phenolics.
“These have proven nutritional benefits including in stroke prevention, as antioxidants and even as anti-cancer agents. Some of these compounds are being tested for their potential anti-cancer and health benefits.
“Our industry succeeds only when consumers trust that what they buy is healthy, sustainable and, above all, safe. The safety and quality assurance of our products remains of the highest priority,” he added. – Bernama