President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law banning the use of palm oil in food, especially in baby food. This was announced by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak of the Voice faction.
The new law aims to improve the quality of food for children and help harmonise Ukrainian legislation in this area with the EU standards.
What is the danger of palm oil?
Palm oil, which is widely used in the food industry, can have negative health effects. The World Health Organisation notes that consumption of foods high in saturated fat, including palm oil, can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by contributing to an increase in ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL).
In addition, in 2016, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) warned that heating palm oil to high temperatures can produce hazardous compounds such as 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters, which have potentially carcinogenic properties.
As a reminder, the Verkhovna Rada passed the relevant draft law No. 5148 in September 2024.
