Researchers may have produced the ‘holy grail’ alternative to palm oil

Food scientists at the Queen Margaret University (QMU) in Edinburgh say they have developed an alternative to the world’s most produced vegetable oil—palm oil—which could reduce the deforestation caused by palm tree cultivation.

Called PALM-ALT, researchers say their 100% plant-based ingredient has over 80% less saturated fat and 30% less calories.

Globally, 40% of the vegetable oil produced is palm oil. It caused 8% of the world’s deforestation between 1990 and 2008.

Colorless, odorless and tasteless, it is the most preferred cooking oil. It is cheaper to produce and is found in almost every consumer product, from food to toiletries.

One of the lead researchers at QMU says, “It’s the holy grail to replace it and still have exactly the same end result in product—to taste the same and have the texture the same—and we've done that.”