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Does anyone know of a margarine that doesn't contain palm oil?

28 replies

HuevosRancheros · 16/02/2012 07:08

We have decided to cut palm oil out of our diet as much as possible, for environmental reasons

I've looked in Sainsburys, and googled it, but can't find one that guarantees to be free from palm oil

Does anyone know of one?

Thanks :)

OP posts:
liveinazoo · 16/02/2012 07:11

have you looked at pure?
they do sunflower one thats just sunflower

HuevosRancheros · 16/02/2012 07:38

Thanks - I'll have a look at that. The problem seems to be that manufacturers just state "vegetable oils" in the ingredients, without saying exactly which ones, so can sneak the palm oil in Sad

OP posts:
fluffiphlox · 16/02/2012 08:04

Are you vegan? If not, what about using butter? You are right to stop using palm oil. I saw some PO plantations in Costa Rica and they were vile. Also it is in loads of things edible and cosmetic.

HuevosRancheros · 16/02/2012 09:18

No, we're not vegan, and much as I love butter, I couldn't replace marge with that - we eat so much marge, and the thought of all that saturated fat.....

We saw the rainforest cleared for plantations in Borneo :( Hence decision

OP posts:
HamblesHandbag · 16/02/2012 10:21

but margarine is full of weird chemical fats Confused

butter is a natural product. Even spreadable (and light) versions of butter only have milk/salt/veg oil in them.

I'd rather use less butter than margarine. Margarine is still fatty and calorific.

fluffiphlox · 16/02/2012 10:48

The spreads we have now are not true margarine but are still full of goodness knows what. I think we have evolved to eat animal products, in moderation of course. I have also been to a 'margarine' factory and it wasn't pleasant.

ppeatfruit · 18/02/2012 15:24

Heuvos For environmental and health reasons - it behaves like saturated fat in our bodies Shock - I have looked for ages for non palm oil spreads and would be willing to pay the full whack for organic best but there is not ONE. I've looked everywhere incl.Fr. where we live 50% of the time, so i've given up and use organic olive oil for everything ! IKWYM by the way the manufs. use the weasel words 'veg. fats\oils' they think no one will notice, it's sickening.

Olive oil is great on toast and crackers and I cook with it too (you can't taste it in cakes honest!!) Recently I'm happy to say that I heard there is statistical evidence that gently frying in olive oil is actually GOOD for you Grin DH uses butter on his toast.

ppeatfruit · 18/02/2012 15:29

I agree fluffiIt annoys me a lot that so called Health Food shops sell a hell of a lot of stuff with palm oil in it (I spend hours looking at labels which annoys DH! Grin.

HuevosRancheros · 18/02/2012 15:40

Thanks ppeatfruit

So, when baking, I am happy to use olive oil - assume mild rather than extra virgin. Do you replace it weight for weight?

What do you do if you're making sandwiches?

I would live on buttered toast given the chance Grin

OP posts:
Frontpaw · 18/02/2012 17:56

I would happily live on nice fresh bread dipped in olive oil. Bliss!

HuevosRancheros · 18/02/2012 17:59

Also lovely :)

But it would make for a claggy sarnie

OP posts:
Frontpaw · 18/02/2012 18:00

I don't use fat on sarnies - usually just a squeeze of fake mayo or pickle.

ppeatfruit · 19/02/2012 09:56

yes as frontpaw says and for dipping the oil is even better with a bit of garlic in it! A touch of tahini and avocado spread made with olive oil for spreading! is nice in sarnies .I use the same normal organic oil (Sainsburys do a very reasonable one BTW) for cooking as for toast and it's lovely!

BIWI · 19/02/2012 10:06

I would avoid any marge. The stuff that's in it and the amount of processing that is involved is horrible. Just go for butter.

There is also more and more evidence that all the stuff we're told about fats/saturated fats being bad for us/our hearts is simply not true!

ppeatfruit · 19/02/2012 10:08

I just reread yr. post Huevas about weight and must confess i'm a bit cavalier with cooking. I don't weigh anything Blush !! I mainly use a cake recipe that is made in a saucepan (when you think about it a lot of recipes use melted butter or marg.) and I always add molasses and or rice syrup,choc helps too to stop the cake crumbling due to the lack of hardening from the fat.

Also there are fat free recipes I made a gorgeous lemon, almond and egg whit e cake.

foreverondiet · 20/02/2012 21:31

Actually I'd look out for marg with coconut and palm oil, def healthier than processed / hydrogenated vegetable (rapeseed, sunflower) oils.

I just read the coconut oil miracle, really recommend. Coconut oil (and palm oil) misunderstood are not the unhealthy saturated fat they have been portrayed as.

I use 100% coconut oil whenever possible (solid from fridge), can also use butter. Or olive oil?

ppeatfruit · 21/02/2012 08:19

I agree totally about the processed\hydrogenated nature of marg. I use olive oil for everything. But as Heuvas says rainforest areas are being ruined by the farming of palm oil there is some organic farming but not much and it's being exploited by the manufs. here 'cos it's so cheap.

The thing is forever Some people are good with butter and coconut oil Iam not; we are all different and get on well or badly with different foods depending on our blood types. Of course it's not as simple as that but since following my blood type I've cleared up SOO many health issues that I'd had for years I KNOW that there's a lot in it (author Dr. Peter D'Adamo).

Grandma27 · 09/04/2016 10:41

Pure contains Palm Oil - which I have been using for same reason! Annoyed!

J4ne51 · 23/03/2017 11:32

I have been using pure and have just seen it contains palm oil.Can you use rapeseed oil for baking, pastry etc.

J4ne51 · 23/03/2017 11:33

I have been using pure and have just seen it contains palm oil.Can you use rapeseed oil for baking, pastry etc.

FustratedFoodie · 09/01/2018 03:19

Parkay Original Bars!!
I know that this is an old post, bit I was also recently looking for a margarine free of palm oil, as it gives me terrible acne all over. I found Parkay margarine bars. They come in a box and are made by Lactancia in Canada. They use soyabean and canola oils.
It is frustrating to me how many products now have palm oil, but at least I stopped snacking on as much junk food.

Mothership4two · 30/01/2018 01:11

TIANA Fairtrade Organics Exquisite Omega 3 Spreadable Dairy-Free Butter Alternative - but expensive about £7 for a jar

moochypooch · 30/01/2018 15:45

I spread mayo or avocado instead of butter - I have to avoid dairy.

samanthab1485 · 30/09/2018 10:01

Yeo Valley Organic Buttery & Spreadable 500g