Chocolate Brands Absent from Palm Oil: Russian Experts Single Out 10 Brands
Choosing palm oil-free chocolate ain't just about the dough, it's a conscious decision made by folks who care about their health and our planet. But there are some misconceptions that can trip up even the savviest shoppers.
The price trap: A common belief is that if chocolate is cheap, it's got palm oil, and if it's pricey, it ain't. Not so! Some bargain brands ditch the palm oil, while luxury brands sometimes slip it in, camouflaging it with different names.
Spotting the hidden palms: To root out palm oil from the ingredients, give the label a thorough reading. Keep an eye out for phrases like "palm oil" or "palm kernel oil," but also be on the lookout for terms like "vegetable fat" or "hydrogenated vegetable fats." Those often need further decoding to reveal the palm oil secret. For instance, Alpen Gold chocolate: the plain stuff might be palm oil-free, but the filled variants might not.
Palm-free sweet treasures:
- Russian delights:
- "Krasnyi Oktyabr" (selected flavors)
- "Alenka" (classic)
- "Rossiya Shchedraya dush" ("Zolotaya marka")
- International sweets:
- "Ritter Sport"
- "Merci"
- "Toblerone"
- "Delicadore"
- Store surprises:
- "Samokat"
- Belarusian bites:
- "Spartak"
- "Kommunarka" (dark chocolate)
The Big Tip: Drop the preconceived notions! The best way to nab palm oil-free chocolate is to scour the ingredients list relentlessly. It won't take long, and it'll help you make an informed choice that caters to your preferences and beliefs, says the source.
Digging Deeper: Common terms used to obscure or subtly indicate palm oil in chocolate ingredient lists frequently include various phrases that might not explicitly say "palm oil" but refer to palm-derived or similar fats and oils. Some common ways palm oil might be listed or hidden involve:
- Palm fruit oil or Palm oil — Sometimes listed straightforwardly but not always highlighted.
- Vegetable oil or Vegetable fat — Generic terms that could include palm oil.
- Palm kernel oil — A derivative of palm oil.
- Fractionated palm oil or Modified palm oil — Processed forms of palm oil.
- Sustainable palm oil — When brands want to emphasize ethical sourcing.
- Fat or Hydrogenated fat — These can be palm oil-based but often are generic.
- Cocoa butter substitutes — Palm oil or its derivatives are sometimes used without explicitly mentioning palm oil.
Other less obvious or vague terms can be used to mask the presence of palm oil, such as:
- Glycerin or glycerol
- Lecithin (e.g., sunflower lecithin)
- Generic fats and oils in ingredient lists can conceal palm oil if the specific source isn't mentioned.
In a Nutshell: Peering beneath the chocolate label involves careful reading, especially when ingredients mention "vegetable oil," "vegetable fat," or specifically "palm fruit oil" without further detail.
- Conscious consumers pick palm oil-free chocolate for both health-and-wellness reasons and environmental-science concerns.
- Some shoppers may fall into the price trap, believing that expensive chocolate is palm oil-free, but this isn't always the case.
- To avoid hidden palm oil in chocolate, it's crucial to read the labels thoroughly and watch out for phrases like "palm oil," "palm kernel oil," "vegetable fat," and "hydrogenated vegetable fats."
- Notable palm oil-free chocolate brands include "Krasnyi Oktyabr," "Alenka," "Rossiya Shchedraya dush," "Ritter Sport," "Merci," "Toblerone," "Delicadore," "Samokat," "Spartak," and "Kommunarka."
- To make an informed decision, one should drop preconceived notions and scrutinize the ingredients list carefully, as palm oil may be disguised using terms like "palm fruit oil," "vegetable oil," "fractionated palm oil," "modified palm oil," "sustainable palm oil," "fat," "hydrogenated fat," and "cocoa butter substitutes."
- In addition to these obvious terms, palm oil may be concealed under names such as "glycerin," "lecithin," and generic fats and oils in ingredient lists, so it's essential to pay close attention to the specific sources of these ingredients.
