There’s a Rang-Tan in my bedroom . . .

Please,  please  watch this short video from You Tube.  It’s just one minute and 31 seconds long.  Please, please, please watch it.

I don’t know about you, but this video made me cry and I vowed that I’d share it on the blog here.

If you don’t know anything about Palm Oil, maybe I can help just a tiny bit and give you a little information:

Palm Oil is harmful is to animals if eaten, obviously causing a problem to marine life, and  a vet here in the UK even had to save the lives of 5 dogs  (<— LINK will open in another window for you)  after they ingested some on the beach.

Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil derived from palm fruit grown on oil palm trees, and it’s one of the most unsustainable industries in the world.

Causing mass deforestation around the world (specifically Africa, Asia, and America, but mostly Indonesia and Malaysia),  palm oil growth is destructive to the environment and the habitats of many now-endangered species, as well as the homes of native communities.  Because of huge demand; it’s in everything.

More than 50% (yes, you read that right – more than FIFTY PER-CENT) of the items on sale in your grocery stores, contain Palm Oil.

Most of the time, it’s a completely unnecessary ingredient,  but it’s so hard to find alternatives to products that don’t contain it. But at least if we’re all made aware, we can try our hardest to avoid it…

10 things you’re probably buying which contain Palm Oil and you didn’t realise it …

1.  BREAD

Most loaves of bread you buy at the supermarket will contain palm oil, so next time you go for your weekly shop, check the ingredients carefully, or even better – buy bread from the counter or a local baker and actually ask them for the list of ingredients they use!

2.  CRISPS  –  (‘Chips’ for our American readers)

It makes sense that making crisps requires some kind of oil, but sadly most of them use palm oil. The packet will likely say ‘vegetable oil’ though, so be aware (this is another commonly used name for Palm Oil). The best thing is to look for crisps that expressly use an oil like olive, sunflower or coconut, or find savoury crunchy snacks that don’t contain any oil at all!

3.  MARGARINE

Margarine is a commonly used substitute for butter and dairy spreads, but even though you’re doing a good thing by avoiding the dairy industry, most of these products contain palm/vegetable oil. Try substituting margarine in recipes with coconut oil, or olive oil.

4.  VEGAN CHEESE

Same as above, many of the dairy substitutes sadly seem to contain palm oil in some form. Keep an eye out on the ingredients and shop sustainably;  many vegan cheeses come in plastic packaging and contain loads of random additives!  (One of the reasons I don’t eat Vegan cheese!)

5.  SOAP

Many supermarket soaps seem to contain palm oil for some reason, buy from local artisans, or brands that use only natural ingredients who don’t test on animals.

6.  ICE CREAM

I have no idea why there needs to be palm oil in ice cream… odd that!  Not all brands do, so always check the label. 

7.  PIZZA BASES

Many supermarket oven pizzas or ready-made pizza bases contain palm/vegetable oil in the base.  But again, check the label because not all will.

8.  INSTANT NOODLES

A staple for all budgeters and quick-lunch-addicts alike, vegan or otherwise.  They’re probably not great for our health anyway.  Oh and yes, this includes Supernoodles, Pot Noodles and Tesco Instant Noodles (for readers in the UK).

9.  SHAMPOO

As with the soap (mentioned above),  try to support ethical/environmental brands when buying personal care/beauty products.  Places like Lush and the Body Shop are good places to start.

10.  CHOCOLATE

Palm oil in chocolate is a more rare occurrence, but still something to check on the ingredients labels.  It can be easy to avoid, so why buy it by accident?

It’s almost impossible to never buy anything with palm oil in it, but if we all are made aware of the issues and try our very best to cut down on palm oil purchases and avoid it where we can, then maybe we can each make a small difference.  All those small differences will add up to a BIG difference.

BE  A  PART  OF  THE  DIFFERENCE!

LINKS:  (all will open up in another window for you)

Say NO to Palm Oil

25 Sneaky Names for Palm Oil

Palm Oil is Everywhere.  Here’s what to do about it.

My BIG thanks to Anna at ‘The Cornish Life’  for help in putting this post together in a short way, as I’m totally unable to ‘do’ short because words just keep tumbling out of my head and my fingers are compelled to share those words!  tsk tsk.

Have a truly blessed rest of your day, my wonderful friend.  Thank you so much for coming, reading, and BIG THANKS particularly for watching the short video at the head of this post.  Be a part of the difference.  Alone we can achieve a small thing.  Together, we can change the world!

Sending you much love, from me in my corner, to you in yours.

Ivy Fairy Cobwebs Siggy

Author: The Art of Cobwebs - aka:- thecobweboriumemporium

Hello. I'm 'Cobwebs'. I live in a wee little cottage in the South of England, aptly called Cobweb Cottage. This little dwelling really is a cobweb factory. Not inside (well, occasionally) - but outside - flipping heck! This information should give you a clue as to why my blog is called The Art of Cobwebs aka: The Cobweborium Emporium. I've been arty and crafty from a very young age, and although my crafts have sometimes turned a corner and taken me in another direction, I've always crafted in some way, shape or form. One day, in the blink of an eye, life changed somewhat for me and the consequences were many. I had to find a new way of being 'artistic'. Card making; scrap-booking; producing ATC's and ACEO's; needle felting; Polymer clay; painting- but in a more relaxed style than I had before, and sewing, - are all things which I visit, as and when life allows. I've fairy recently become a Textile Artist and am enjoying this new creative outlet very much as it offers me so much scope for letting my imagination run through a grassy field and feel the wind in my hair - (mentally, of course). I love to create. To make things. I truthfully believe that the best gifts in the world are those in which you've given your time, rather than your cash. Thank you so much for visiting. Please visit my blog (link below) and have a look around. I'm sure you'll find something to enjoy, even if it's only a handful of jokes! (yes, seriously - there really are jokes!) Wishing you a truly blessed rest of your day! ~ Cobs. <3

55 thoughts on “There’s a Rang-Tan in my bedroom . . .”

    1. You’re right, of course, Anna. There are too many ‘harmless’ looking names. Even Vegetable Oil sounds like it comes from the crops a farmer grows in his fields.

      Thanks for coming Anna.
      Sending you much love~ Cobs. xxx

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    1. *nodding in agreement*.

      In many cases there is no need for the Palm Oil to be there at all. And yet … still they add it.

      It’s in SO many things and we just don’t realise it.
      Sending love to you both. ~ Cobs. xxx

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    1. Hello Ruth
      Yes of course you can link to this post. Anytime, any post.
      Thank you so much for coming and having a read. I’m just thrilled to pieces to read that you don’t use palm oil in your soap making, and I so wish that you and I lived closer, I’d be a frequent customer for some Lavender soap.

      Again, thank you for coming Ruth, and for the lovely comment.
      Have a blessed rest of your day! ~ Cobs. xxx

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      1. Honestly I usually don’t watch videos within a post but because of your plea I did. That video spoke was very touching and spoke to me.
        I have been aware of the palm oil issue for a while most soap makers recommend using sustainably sourced palm oil. I say it’s just not necessary. I just haven’t really passed the info along and I think it’s time to do this.
        Oh, I too wished we lived closer – we could go fairy hunting too.
        Blessings to you as well ♥

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        1. I agree with you Ruth. Palm Oil in soap really isn’t necessary.

          Love the idea of going Fairy Hunting with you. Ahhh …. happy days, with our lunch packed into a bag … and a bottle of something yummy – drunk with a straw. Even my mother would approve. lol.
          Sending much love to you ~ Cobs. xxx

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  4. There seems to be something bad in every thing we eat. I should have never stopped gardening food ,but we were so concerned about the ground after Tobie died ( blastomycosis SP) I truely believe we are under population control. Even the horrible Bill Gates says vacs can slow the growth. Add in Roundup and.. well see…they are trying to do us in.

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    1. I can see exactly what you saying Bev, and will admit to having a stray thought along those lines, now and again, too.

      God gave us a beautiful garden to play in and we’re completely spoiling it, and those in charge of the various countries seem to be helping that to happen, in one way or another.

      Sending much love to you Bev.. and a million Squidges ~ Cobs. xxx

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    1. Hello Caz!
      Thrilled to read your comment and I’m SO glad that you included the link to the petition for Iceland to release the advert (for the life of me I cannot understand why they were told they weren’t allowed – although … maybe those in charge perhaps don’t want us to know too much)… because I couldn’t find the link to include in the post above, so thank you MUCHLY for including the link.

      You’re absolutely right – palm oil is included in things that we didn’t either know about or realise – because they hide the inclusion by calling it something else and so we buy products blindly believing that we’re doing the right thing. (Personally I think this should be outlawed. Things should be called exactly what they are!)

      Thanks so much for coming Caz, and for the great comment.

      I repeat that link for anyone wanting to join the petition to allow Iceland (store) to run that short film as an advert – because Iceland (the store) is currently the ONLY store who are completely [now] Palm Oil Free!
      You can sign the petition by clicking this link and adding your name in the little boxes.
      https://www.change.org/p/release-iceland-s-banned-christmas-advert-on-tv-nopalmoilchristmas?signed=true

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  6. Thanks for the heads-up on this Cobs. I love the video. I notice that we are losing over 6000 orangutans a year. But I’m a little confused about the notion that it is unhealthy for humans. There are tons of articles stating the exact opposite and it seems to be very beneficial. But I get your point about the fact that it is the way it is harvested that is a cause for concern. Tbh, I’m surprised nobody in the UK hasn’t blasted Robinsons yet. All their juices contain Aspartame, which is so Cancer-causing, it has been banned in the USA, yet most of our sugar-free squashes contain this nasty stuff and it’s being fed to our kids in nurserys and creches. I guess there are many more poisonous, pointless substances we are consuming, but like you have indicated here, it is kept quiet and disguised under a different name.

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    1. You should build a blog post about it!! You could be the start of something big, Sharon. A change for the better. A movement.

      All it takes is one person to begin it in order to win it. You could be the change which will put this right.

      I think you might be onto something there Sharon.

      As for Palm Oil being unhealthy for humans … well I’ll put it short and sweet….
      If one vet saved the lives of 5 dogs when they licked the big blob (for want of a better word) of Palm Oil which washed up on a beach in Dorset . . . if it had the potential to kill or make seriously ill a dog, then do you really want to eat it yourself?

      Google will help you with your queries regarding Palm Oil.

      Thank you so much for coming, and for taking the time to leave a comment.
      Wishing you a truly blessed rest of your day ~ Cobs. 🙂

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  7. Hi Cobs, I know all about palm oil and the dreadful affect it is having on wildlife through deforestation. Horrible industry. More poison snuck into the foodchain. There is somewhere on the internet (I couldn’t find it this morning), a table of products (with things being added all the time), using palm oil. It helps to identify palm oil hidden in food labels under a different name. I will try to find it and add the link if I am successful. Poor doggies, glad they survived. xx

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    1. Hello Barbara.
      I too, like you, are glad that the vet was able to save the dogs.

      You’re spot on …. the various producers of food stuffs do hide Palm Oil in their products by calling it some other name. Which is just wrong. If they had nothing to hide then they’d call it by it’s name.

      Personally, for sake of the health of the general public, and to give the public the right to choose, Governments of the World should be put in a position of having to outlaw the re-naming of products and instead forced to call them by their original name, so that the buying public are in full possession of the facts and have the opportunity to make considered purchases, rather than buying in the dark. How can people buy healthy food if they don’t know what’s in the food their buying?!

      Aw . . . I’ll climb down off my soap-box. lol

      Thank you so much for coming Barbara, and for the great comment.
      Have a blessed rest of your day! ~ Cobs. xxx

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      1. You are welcome Cobs, anything that gets people informed and talking about these issues is good as far as I am concerned. Also anything we can do to help animals in distress, which the orangutan surely is (and our closest genetic species), it’s almost unbearable to think that they are being exploited and wiped off the face of the earth for the sake of a product that can easily be either substituted or left out altogether. I’ll get off my soapbox too! xxxx

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          1. Good idea Cobs, no one likes a “know it all” do they? Laughter and a coffee, a wonderful combination. To share them with a wonderful friend like you, a true blessing. Barbara xxxxxx

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  9. Hello Cobs

    I shared on Facebook as I also felt the need to pass this on. I always read packaging. We rarely purchase prepackaged food as we cook with fresh ingredients as much as possible, but it’s amazing what can be hidden in the fine print on the few packaged products that we need to buy.

    I do hope all is going well with you. My hand/fingers are on the mend although mobility/dexterity is still difficult, but I’m finally allowed to get back to my ukelele as the Dr considers it to be good physiotherapy … YES!!!! Doing my best not to “overdo” it but I can be a bit too enthusiastic at time. I’m sure you’ll know what I mean 😄

    Happy days to you, my friend and I hope the sun is shining for you in your part of the world 🔆❤

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    1. Hello Kay
      You’re so right – it’s mind blowing what can be hidden in the list of contents on food packaging. It really shouldn’t be like that. How on earth can people stay healthy when they don’t understand the list of ingredients in a product!

      I’m so happy to hear that your hands/fingers are on the mend and that you’ve improved enough that your Dr. has said yes to you getting back to your Ukelele! Brilliant! 😀

      But yes, please don’t push your limits. You’re doing incredibly well – but you have to remind yourself that you’re not superwoman! Baby steps, Kay. Baby Steps!

      The weather in my part of the world is: Chilly, but with a bright sky. The sun is attempting to warm us up, but at the moment it’s struggling. However, it’s only 10.20am, so it still has time! 🙂

      Sending much love to you Kay, along with a bundle of squidges ~ Cobs. xxx

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    1. Hello Savoring Sixty 😀
      How true your comment is.
      God gave us this wonderful garden to play in, and here we are totally ruining it in as many ways as possible. Yet all we had to do was love one another.

      It makes my heart feel so heavy with sadness.

      Thank you so much for coming. It’s really lovely to see you.
      Thank you also for the great comment.
      Sending much love ~ Cobs. xxx

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  12. Labeling of products is a farce. Nothing is what it seems to be. I don’t know what your laws are there, but here if you phone the manufacturer they have to disclose all the ingredients, provide a Material Safety Data Sheet. if asked. So much more work needs to be done to clean up the mess we have managed to make in our own nest. Shame on us!!!

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    1. The laws here state that manufacturers or sellers/producers of food products HAVE to declare the ingredients on the labelling of the product, listed from high to lowest content. However … when the ingredients have 40 different names (each ingredient) or a confusing set of numbers, I defy any regular shopper/buyer to be able to decipher exactly what’s contained in that item.

      We need things to be called exactly what they are, so that we can make our healthy or unhealthy choice based on knowledge. Instead of based on “haven’t got a clue, but it must be ok because they’re not allowed to sell us stuff which will drug or kill us” (sigh)

      Laws need to be changed. How the heck are we to care for our bodies, and the bodies of our family, if we don’t know what on earth we’re putting into their body!

      This is something which troubles me greatly.

      Squidges to you Raili, and of course, love in abundance! ~ Cobs. xxx

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      1. Here labeling is probably even more obscure as not every ingredient has to be listed. A friend of mine found out that a very well known baby care product touted to be safe actually contain toxic chemicals as a preservative. It does not have to be declared on the label. The children’s hospital was recommending it as a safe to use product for newborns and premmies – even they did not know what was in it until she told them ! Needless to say they stopped that practice.
        And another favourite of mine is the very poorly quality controlled essential oil industry. Did you know that an oil only needs to contain between 5 -10% pure oil for it to be legally advertised as organic. The rest is topped up with fillers and chemicals 😦 No wonder people have reactions to it. It’s the s***t they add to it that is the culprit…..

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        1. I’m well and truly astounded on both counts! – The baby care product containing toxic chemicals is shocking!! I can [kind of] understand that the hospital were recommending what they thought was a much trusted product from a much trusted company.

          But doesn’t it prove that we really do need Governments around the world to put into law that all producers, makers, and sellers of all products HAVE to be totally transparent with regard to what ingredients are included in the making up of the product we’re buying.

          Someone suggested to me that this is bordering now on population control …. and I’m beginning to wonder if perhaps that thought does dip it’s toes in the truth in some way or other.

          I never knew about the essential oil industry pulling a fast one with what’s actually included and used in the oils for sale!!! I’m STUNNED!

          I’ve always believed that this was one area where things really were what I believed they were. How naive am I?!!

          Thanks for sharing Raili. You’ve taught me to question even more than I currently do. And … this is more evidence that I’m not as cranky as my family believe I am, when I’m reading labels and looking up the reality of an ingredient which I don’t understand or haven’t heard of before! (and believe me, my family all think I’m nuts and have no problem in telling me so either!).

          Sending much love. Have a blessed day Raili. ~ Cobs. xxxx

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          1. Sorry to say regulation and quality control in the essential oil industry is really lousy. in fact, there is no standard. That’s why I only use the oils from one company who I know I can absolutely trust,

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  14. I’ve seen the video, but I didn’t realise how many things palm oil is actually in! That’s insane… I’m going to look more carefully at the labels from now on

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  15. Oh dear! How awful! Why is it us humans need to destroy the other living things around us for the “good” of mankind? We seem to have a habit of abusing the other species in the world to the point of extinction! Enough is enough! We seem to be headed down the path of having nothing left to destroy. 😦

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    1. It’s no wonder that they’re now looking for other planets upon which we can live, is it? They obviously know we’re killing ours, so are trying to find another one we can make rubbish of!
      (or maybe that’s just me being cynical)

      Lovely to see you Nancee. Thank you so much for coming, and also for taking the time to leave a chat and comment.
      Sending love ~ Cobs. xxx

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  16. Pingback: Why I don’t Use Palm Oil When Making Soap | Don't Eat It! Soap and Skin Care

  17. It truly breaks my heart with the state of our wild life and our environment, man is so destructive, and I just want to cry with all the cruel, stupid things that man inflicts. I’m not going to get on my soap box, I would be here for eternity otherwise, but thank you for sharing this with everyone and I will definitely check what I use more than I do already. Hugs x 🙂

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  18. I understand the horrible affects Palm oil has on the world. Its horrible stuff. I choose to buy things that do not contain it. I try to buy organic on most of my choices. Thank you for the sneaky list tit was very informative. I have missed my coffee moments with you and Ireally enjoyed the video and the links you shared. I hope you have a fabulous week my friend. xoxoxoxoxoxoxox ❤ See you soon ❤

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      1. Went straight to it-I am glad Mabel had you in her life and I am so sorry. she had to go home. I understand, for my last boxer was 14 when I had to make the decision, which takes courage. I love you and am so thankful to hear from you. Saying a prayer for you right now. love Michele, your own rabbit

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  21. I’m sorry to have to post here as I know you must have turned off the comments for a reason on your recent post and I couldn’t find an email address/contact form for you, but I couldn’t not say something. I am so, so sorry about Mabel. You must be utterly heartbroken. I was besides myself when we had to have our dog put down, even though I know it was better than seeing him suffer any longer because we was also, like Mabel, so poorly. I still get sad, years later, when I think of him. Mabel was lucky to have you, and you lucky to have Mabel, and that time was priceless and precious. Sending lots of love your way  ♥
    Caz xxxx

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  22. Cobs, honey, I’m so sorry about Mabel. I happened to think of you today as I’ve been catching up with blogging friends over vacation. Like Invisible Me, I came here to offer my hugs and love, and more hugs and love. Losing our babies is so hard, but I hope as the weeks go by, your sadness is turning into a heart surrounded by precious memories of Mabel.

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    1. Hello Mary.
      Thank you for your lovely words, and for thinking of me. Losing her was just the most awful experience, and the pain was greater than my body could hold. I howled in the car park at the vets, and we couldn’t drive off for about 30 minutes because I couldn’t ‘leave her behind’. I knew she, herself, wasn’t there but simply her ‘over-coat’. But I could still feel her soul and I simply couldn’t go.

      But … although I said I would never have another dog, we acquired a tiny puppy a week before Christmas. I think Mr. Cobs could see that I needed a dog to love. My life was missing something important, and my heart had a dog shaped hole in it which nothing else could possibly heal.

      I’ve just published a new post, in which I introduce our new baby (towards the end of it). and that will tell you a little more. His name is Hugo,

      I still miss ‘Belly’ very much, and know I always will. She was unique and had some amazing talents. An incredibly caring little dog, and so, so faithful. Not a dog, but a four legged friend and companion. She bought much sunshine into my life.

      But then … I know you know all about this because you too have your own four legged companions, current and gone before.
      Aw Mary thank you so much for coming, and for your kindness in writing and your words.
      Bless your beautiful heart.
      Much love ~ Cobs. xxx

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