The estimated intake of palm oil in Spain and Germany

Abstract

Palm oil is one of the most widely used vegetable oils by the food industry but there is limited information on actual intake. A detailed intake assessment of palm oil for Spain and Germany was conducted. For Spain, mean palm oil intakes ranged from 2.06 g/day in the elderly to 4.54 g/day in children and adolescents, while high-level intakes ranged from 10.34 g/day in the elderly to 20.88 g/day in toddlers. For Germany, mean palm oil intakes ranged from 3.06 g/day in toddlers to 6.22 g/day in the very elderly, while high-level intakes ranged from 13.61 g/day in toddlers to 30.10 g/day in the elderly. For both countries, the main contributing food categories to mean palm oil intake were biscuits, cakes, bread, breakfast cereal and margarine. In summary, the present paper provides a realistic assessment of the intake of palm oil in two EU countries for different population groups.

Keywords:

• Palm oil
• intake
• saturated fat
• exposure
• Spain
• Germany

Author contributions

AH, ML and IT were responsible for the conceptualisation. AH, IB, AC, ND, LG and JS were responsible for methodology and data gathering on palm oil presence in food products. AH was responsible for formal analysis and supervision of data gathered. AH was responsible for the original draft preparation and review and editing. ML and IT were responsible for project administration and funding acquisition. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

At the time of the study, AH was an employee of Exponent International. The EPOA is a client of Exponent International. AH has no conflict of interest. At the time of the study IB worked for Sime Darby; ND worked for Cargill, AC worked for Olenex, JS worked for Lipsa and LG worked for Bunge Loders Croklaan. At the time of the study ML and IT worked for the EPOA.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the European Palm Oil Alliance (EPOA).