The Indian Food and Beverage Association (IFBA) has criticized the growing trend of “No Palm Oil” labels on products, calling it a misleading marketing strategy. Despite its long-standing use in India since the 19th century, palm oil is often misrepresented due to fear-based branding. IFBA emphasized that palm oil is affordable, versatile, and widely used by global brands for its nutritional stability and shelf life. It warned that many consumers now make dietary decisions based on social media trends rather than scientific facts. Chairperson Deepak Jolly stated that such labels distract from balanced nutrition and harm efforts toward national self-reliance.
IFBA highlighted that the ICMR’s 2024 guidelines endorse rotating edible oils, including palm oil, for health benefits. The group also praised the government’s Rs 11,040 crore National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) initiative to boost domestic production.
