IT is obvious that the Western edible oil industry has launched a concerted campaign against palm oil.

It started with criticism against deforestation and environmental destruction of orang utan habitat, and now trying to associate palm oil with heart disease.

These issues had been rebutted previously in my column in The Malaysian Insight and the recent open letter to Jeremy Hunt. 

The latest in the attack on palm oil is a Reuters article, WHO study likens palm oil lobbying to tobacco and alcohol industries. In the reporting, Tom Miles had jumbled the points – palm oil with processed food industry, trans-fats, and food labelling.

To those who are aware of the science of the subject, Miles’ piece was aimed to sensationalise just like the Rang-tan video released in Europe before last Christmas.  

Miles was referring to the article by Kandandale et al, Palm oil industry and non-communicable diseases, published online on January 8.

The title of the article was misleading. Little attempt was made to argue on how palm oil was linked to heart disease other than mere citation of published works.

For those familiar with scientific arguments, and the depth and precision of academic papers are supposed to be, the 10 pages were gibberish unworthy of attachment to the eminence of the World Health Organisation and the English institutions of higher learning. 

Nine out of 10 pages made general discussion on commerce, trade, marketing, supply chain, lobbying by palm oil industry and the environment. Only one page focused on health in general, although at the beginning, the article hinted and made references to heart disease. 

The authors should have based their studies on the latest scientific arguments on the causative factors of heart disease, and not rely on outdated WHO and Food and Agriculture Organisation 2003 report linking palm oil consumption with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

It is enough to rebut the assertions of Kandandale and colleagues with arguments based on science. There is no necessity to argue on their points on trans-fats because it is a different issue.

Trans-fats are not just produced from palm oil, but also from other types of vegetable oil from temperate countries. 

There is also no need to argue here that palm oil is more superior to the other vegetable oils from temperate countries that are produced mostly from genetically engineered crops. It is to their peril to campaign against palm oil. – January 11, 2019.

* Capt Dr Wong Ang Peng (rtd) is president, Society of Natural Health Malaysia.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.