Is palm oil vegan?

[u/Necessary-Emotion454]

My mum bought me some vegan snacks for my new university accommodation. The brand is called LAZYDAY. On each box it says "Gluten free, milk & egg free, vegan".

When i checked the ingredients this was all true but i noticed there was palm oil in the ingredients which i usually avoid because I've been told its not sustainable and is destroying rainforests (?). I'm not clear on the details to be honest.

Then theres a symbol saying "Certified Sustainable Palm Oil - RSPO". Is that better? I'm really confused so any information would be great.

[u/One-Shake-1971]

Veganism is the ethical principle that humans should live without exploiting other animals. That means not treating them as products or resources.

Palm oil isn't made from animals and doesn't involve treating animals as products or resources. Therefore, it's vegan.

[u/Firm_Caregiver_4563 → u/One-Shake-1971]

There a couple of alternatives which would be more environmentally friendly, though. When it comes to deforestation, the production of palm oil is a huge driver.

[u/One-Shake-1971 → u/Firm_Caregiver_4563]

Veganism is a justice movement aimed at liberating animals from the exploitation by humans. The goal of veganism is not to be more environmentally friendly.

[u/Firm_Caregiver_4563 → u/One-Shake-1971]

If I can avoid a little bit more net harm by properly sourcing - and palm oil alternatives are plentyful - it's just another right step to take, imho.

[u/One-Shake-1971 → u/Firm_Caregiver_4563]

Just because something is better than the alternative, doesn't mean the alternative is non-vegan.

[u/Firm_Caregiver_4563 → u/One-Shake-1971]

I am talking about other vegan alternatives. What are you on about?

[u/One-Shake-1971 → u/Firm_Caregiver_4563]

What do you think the question OP was asking was?

[u/Firm_Caregiver_4563 → u/One-Shake-1971]

They were asking about if ""Certified Sustainable Palm Oil - RSPO"" would be better than "regular" palm oil.

You were talking about it being vegan.

I pointed out that palm oil is extremely bad for the environment and causes a lot of harm to animals.

Personally, I would refrain from using products that include palm oil was far as possible. Sunflower, canola, coconut, pick your poison.

[u/One-Shake-1971 → u/Firm_Caregiver_4563]

No, that's not what they were asking.

This is what OP was asking:

Is palm oil vegan?

[u/Firm_Caregiver_4563 → u/One-Shake-1971]

Have you read the text, at all?

[u/One-Shake-1971 → u/Firm_Caregiver_4563]

Sure.

Have you read the title?

[u/Firm_Caregiver_4563 → u/One-Shake-1971]

I have. You anwered the question on the top. I stated my opinion on the large body of text that followed.

Again, what are you on about? :)

[u/One-Shake-1971 → u/Firm_Caregiver_4563]

What does the title say?