20/04/2011 (ABC Online) - Three of Australia's major zoos say providing better labelling for palm oil will lay the foundations for saving the world's orangutan populations.

Executives from the Sydney, Melbourne and Perth zoos have told a Senate inquiry into the Truth In Labelling Act, which was introduced by independent Senator Nick Xenophon, that consumers want palm oil clearly labelled rather than being included as a generic vegetable oil.

They believe providing better labelling would give consumers the right to exercise choice, which would ultimately lead to better practices worldwide and more sustainable production in the orangutans' native forests.

But executives from Australia's leading supermarket chains say there is a long way to go before they can effectively label palm oil in food products.

Representatives from Coles and Woolworths told the inquiry it is not possible to provide a label for certified sustainable palm oil yet because such an industry does not exist.

They say home-branded products are already labelled as specifically containing palm oil rather than just including it as just a generic vegetable oil.

Both retailers are working with suppliers to encourage better practices.