17/06/2011 (Ninemsn) - Two Senate crossbenchers have condemned both major parties for rejecting a move designed to help protect orangutans in South-East Asia.

Greens senator Rachel Siewert and independent senator Nick Xenophon said current food labelling laws are misleading because they allow palm oil to be labelled as vegetable oil.

The senators say as a result an orangutan dies every two hours as land is cleared for palm oil plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia.

They have proposed to change the labelling law.

However a Senate committee report on the issue released on Thursday has recommended that the bill not be passed.

"The link between palm production and the subsequent effect on orangutans is very clear," Senator Siewert told reporters.

"Consumers want to know what they're eating. Consumers want choice."

She said it was extremely disappointing that neither the opposition nor the government would move on this issue.

"In fact they hide behind technicalities of the current legislation to say you can't do this when you obviously can."

The senators say the Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling - Palm Oil) Bill 2010 will be before parliament as a private Senator's bill next week.

Senator Xenophon said he hopes the major parties have a change of heart by then.

"I'm hoping that there will be enough public outrage, enough public concern between now and next Thursday for there to be a shift in the position of the major parties.

"I'm not optimistic, but if the bill is defeated next Thursday we'll keep bringing it on.