I am updating this on 07/09/24 as a reminder to always check ingredients. I was at the grocery store this morning and was going to buy Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzels and looked at the ingredients. THEY NOW CONTAIN PALM OIL! I haven’t bought pretzels in a long while so I’m not sure when this changed, but this is a reminder to always read labels. I’m so disappointed in Synder’s and will never buy them as long as they contain palm oil.
If you seek out palm oil free products, you know how difficult it can be. Palm oil is prevalent in processed foods, cleaning products, and self-care items.
This list of palm oil free products includes categories that typically contain palm oil and derivatives. The list starts with foods, then includes palm free self-care and hygiene products, and then cleaning products.
I update this list regularly. Check back often. The more we all support products made without palm oil, the better. We started this website because our son has a palm oil allergy and intolerance. It was making him very sick so we’ve cut it out completely.
According to Today’s Dietitian, the FDA’s proposal to ban trans fats has created even greater demand for palm oil in foods.
In addition to the environmental concerns, many people avoid palm oil for health concerns.
With 500+ names for palm oil derivatives, it’s a challenge to find products without palm oil. In addition, “Natural Flavors” can contain palm oil.
Choosing real, whole foods is a great start. Cooking healthy meals at home means less chance for palm oil.
Please, do your best to support these brands and products so they will continue making them without palm oil. As always, read labels each and every time before buying. Manufacturers continue to change their ingredients to save money. Three somewhat recent examples are:
- RXBAR – Hidden in Natural Flavors in their bars and perhaps/likely in their nut butters
- Clif Kid Z Bars – Their only bar that I found that didn’t contain palm oil is not using it in their Tocopherols
- Life Cereal – Now contains Tocopherols
- Synder’s of Hanover – Palm oil is listed in the ingredients now
Vote with your dollars. Contact companies and let them know you are paying attention. Ask them for the SOURCE of ingredients such as Natural Flavors, Tocopherols, Glycerine, Glycerin, Natural Vanilla Flavor, etc.
In addition, the same product in different sizes may have different ingredients. See the section on Taco Shells below. Ortega’s Yellow Corn Taco Shells 12 count don’t contain palm oil but in a 18-pack, they do.
Please note, this list is not guaranteed. To be confident a product is palm oil free, it will have earned the Palm Oil Free certification from the International Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark (POFCAP) or the Orangutan Alliance. Look for their labels on products, and support them!
Palm Oil Free Products
Foods
Bread without palm oil
Dave’s Killer Bread doesn’t use seem to use palm oil or palm oil derivatives. They use organic canola oil and zero palm oil derivatives. Some of their newer products use palm oil so proceed with caution. They are not certified Palm Oil Free. However, we use this brand safely.
- Dave’s Killer Bread:
- Bagels
- Boomin’ Berry
- Cinnamon Raisin Remix
- Epic Everything
- Pumpkin Spice Madness (seasonal)
- Rolls: Organic Sweet Potato Rock ‘N’ Rolls
- Bread:
- 21 Whole Grains
- Good Seed
- Power Seed
- White Bread
- Blues Bread (blue cornmeal crust)
- Honey Oats & Flax
- 100% Organic Whole Wheat
- English Muffins: Killer Classic and Rockin’ Grains
- Bagels
Scroll to the comments below where a reader wrote in with other bread options from several brands.
You absolutely must read labels before you buy any bread, buns and rolls. In the United States, palm oil derivatives are common.
Some of them include: Mono- and diglycerides; DATEM; Sodium Stearyl Lactylate; and Sorbitan Monostearate
Breakfast foods
See our post Breakfast without palm oil.
Brownies
- Pillsbury Brownie Mix: Chocolate Fudge; Milk Chocolate (mix)
See more brownies and desserts without palm oil.
Butter substitutes
- Miyoko’s European Style Cultured Vegan Butter – Organic
Note, margarine, spreads, and most other butter substitutes contain palm oil. Choose real butter to avoid palm oil.
Candy and chocolate
- Hershey’s Kisses flavors:
- Milk Chocolate
- Milk Chocolate with Almonds
- Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate (Dark Chocolate)
- Hershey’s Nuggets:
- Milk Chocolate
- Milk Chocolate with Almonds
- Special Dark
- Special Dark with Almonds
- M&M’s:
- Milk Chocolate
- Almond
- Dark Chocolate
- Hershey’s Bars:
- Milk Chocolate
- Milk Chocolate with Almonds
- Nellie’s Organics
- York Peppermint Patties
- Raisinets
Also, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have different recipes. Choose their non-holiday, regular, original version which do not list palm oil ingredients. Read labels and choose the ones WITHOUT palm oil.
Much of the candy you find in grocery store contains palm oil. See our list of Halloween candy without palm oil. (Be sure to read the Comments section as well.) Update: We also published a palm oil free holiday candy list.
Note, conversation hearts for Valentine’s Day typically contain palm oil ingredients. Candy canes are not always palm oil free. Look for ones without Glycerin and Glycerol which are palm oil derivatives. Natural flavors in candy can contain palm oil.
Canned foods
When you buy foods in cans, they should contain as few ingredients as possible. This means the food, and perhaps water and salt.
Some examples of canned foods that are typically palm oil free include:
- Carrots
- Corn
- Green beans
- Lentils, beans
- Peas
- Tomato paste, diced tomatoes, etc.
Typically, vegetables in cans do not contain palm oil. Fruit in cans may or may not contain palm oil. They often include Natural Flavors and Citric Acid, both which can contain palm oil.
Caramel spread
- Coop’s Salted Caramel Sauce
- Nuubia Chocolate: Sea Salt Caramel Spread
Cereal
- Kashi: 7 Whole Grain Flakes Cereal; Whole Wheat Biscuits, Autumn Wheat; Whole Wheat Biscuits, Island Vanilla; 7 Whole Grain Honey Puffs Cereal; 7 Whole Grain Puffs Cereal; GOLEAN Peanut Butter Crunch Cereal; Kashi Organic Strawberry Fields Cereal
- Post Shredded Wheat: Original Spoon Size, Wheat Big Biscuit, Wheat ‘N Bran
- Quaker
- Puffed Rice; Puffed Wheat; Quisp; Corn Crunch
- Old-Fashioned Oats, Gluten Free Oats, etc. — Eat as oatmeal & use in desserts, etc.
- Red Ape Cinnamon: Cinnamon Oatmeal Cup
Choose the ones with the least amount of ingredients. Most are fortified with Vitamin A Palmitate, a palm oil ingredient. Watch for Tocopherols (not labeled with a source) as well. Tocopherols are now in Life Cereal so we don’t buy this cereal anymore.
See a detailed list of cereals without palm oil. See below for Granola.
Chicken strips without palm oil
- Foster Farms
- Crispy Chicken Strips
- Gluten-Free Breast Strips
- Popcorn Chicken
Please note, their Gluten-Free Breast Nuggets contain palm oil and is clearly labeled.
A representative from Foster Farms also added: Because our formulations are subject to change, please be sure to check the ingredient statement prior to each purchase.
However, this is true all the time when you are looking for palm oil free products.
Also, many companies who make breaded products often only list “vegetable oil,” without the source. In order to support palm oil free products, you will need to know the source before buying it.
Coffee without palm oil
- Red Ape Cinnamon: Cinnamon Coffee; Ginger Coffee
These coffees are free from palm oil and obtained Palm Oil Free certification by the International Palm Oil Free Certification Programme.
Palm oil is most likely not common in regular ground coffee.
However, it can be used to create flavors in coffee. When you buy a bag or canister of ground flavored coffee — as in Creme Brulee, Vanilla, Caramel, etc. — it may contain palm oil in the “natural flavors” that won’t be spelled out.
Think about how the coffee company is making the buttery caramel flavor, etc.
Creamers without palm oil
In addition, watch for palm oil derivatives in CREAMERS. One major brand lists “palm oil” in the ingredients. Other palm oil derivatives in creamers to avoid are:
- Mono- and Diglycerides
- Sodium Stearyl Lactylate
Half & Half is often a palm oil free option.
Cookies
- Pepperidge Farms
- Thin & Crispy: Milk Chocolate Chip, Toffee Milk Chocolate, Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies, Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chessmen Butter Cookies
- Erin Baker’s: All of their products: Double Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Raisin, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Caramel Apple, Banana Walnut, Carrot Cake, Fruit & Nut
- MI-DEL
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip
- Simply MI-Delicious: Ginger Snaps, Chocolate Snaps, Lemon Snaps, Vanilla Snaps
- Walker’s Pure Butter Shortbread
- DrSchar
- Shortbread
- Butter Cookies
Note about Pepperidge Farms: They wrote back to say that different suppliers may use palm oil so they can’t confirm these cookies are always 100% palm oil free.
We included them on this list because we have purchased them for years, and in our area they have remained palm oil free. We appreciate their transparency and for using real ingredients in their products.
Update: We are happy to see they have kept their Holiday Chessmen Butter Cookies the same recipe as last year — no palm oil! (Many manufacturers quietly change ingredients which is why it’s important to read labels every time.)
As with everything, be sure to read all labels. Learn more, and see our list of cookies without palm oil.
Dried fruit without palm oil
- Bare Snacks offers apple, banana, and coconut chips with many organic offerings.
Fruit snacks without palm oil
- KIND Fruit Bites: Cherry Apple, Mango Pineapple Apple, Strawberry Cherry Apple
Many fruit snacks contain Glycerin, Glycerine, and/or Vitamin A Palmitate, which are palm oil derivatives.
Sometimes Citric Acid can be sourced from palm oil. Therefore, if you are avoiding palm for health reasons, you need to check with the manufacturer to find out if the Citric Acid is derived from palm oil.
Graham crackers without palm oil
- Honey Maid Graham Crackers: Original, Cinnamon, Chocolate, Vanilla
More than ever, and especially in “generic,” store brands, graham crackers contain palm oil. READ LABELS!
Nabisco’s Honey Maid line was the only one we found in our grocery store without it.
However, note the Honey Maid Low Fat version contains a palm oil derivative called DATEM. The boxes look similar. (DATEM is a now-common palm oil derivative companies are using in bread.)
Granola & Muesli
- Erin’s Baker: All of their granola products
- Homestyle Granola
- Ultra Protein Granola
- Sprouted Snacks Nut Mix
- Purely Elizabeth:
- Ancient Grain in four flavors
- Nut Butter Granola in two flavors
- Grain-Free Granola in two flavors
- Ancient Grain Minis (single serving sizes in four flavors)
- Simply Balanced Organic Blueberry Granola with Flax
- Seven Sundays Muesli all flavors
It is very easy to make your own granola at home. This granola recipe takes less than an hour to make and bake.
Most granola brands contain Tocopherols, Vitamin E, and/or Glycerin, palm oil derivatives. See below for granola bars.
Granola bars
Please see below for the section about Nutrition bars, snack bars, granola bars below. I have a post about granola bars without palm oil as well which is being revised. Palm oil derivatives make up Natural Flavors, Glycerin, and Glycerine which are common in granola bars.
Soft and chewy bars often contain palm oil more often than crunchy bars. Bars made with dates are less likely to contain palm oil.
Gum without palm oil
- Glee Gum: Peppermint, Cinnamon, Bubblegum, Spearmint, Mixed (Triple) Berry, Sugar-Free Bubblegum, Sugar-Free Wintergreen
- True Gum: available in Denmark; certified Palm Oil Free by International Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark (POFCAP) Mint, Ginger & Turmeric, Liquorice & Eucalyptus, Raspberry & Vanilla
Remember, even “healthy packaging” — across all product lines, not just for gum — does not mean the product is palm oil free. If you see Organic Vegetable Glycerin or Vegetable Glycerin, chances are, it’s made with palm oil.
Hazelnut spread
- Kraft Hazelnut Spread – Made in Canada but available in the US at online at Walmart and Amazon (from what I’ve seen so far 10/2022)
- Nocciolata Organic Hazelnut Spread with Cocoa and Milk – Also on Amazon
- Nocciolata Dairy Free Organic Hazelnut & Cocoa Spread
- Nuubia Chocolate: Caramelized Hazelnut Spread
- Wild Friends Foods: Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (certified Palm Oil Free)
- Xocolatl Chocolate – Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
From which explains their Kraft Hazelnut Spread: INTRODUCING KRAFT HAZELNUT SPREAD, a new hero to the KRAFT spreads portfolio – formulated with NO PALM OIL* and LOW IN SATURATED FAT*.
Ingredients: Sugar, Sunflower Oil, Hazelnuts, Cocoa, Skim Milk Powder, Whey Powder, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin, Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid
*The Absence of palm oil does not imply a product is more sustainable than products with palm oil. Low in saturated fat (1.0 g) per 20 g serving. MY NOTE: I LOVE they are discussing palm oil!
Ice cream
- Ben & Jerry’s: Worldwide, they make all of their flavors and products without palm oil!
We are VERY GRATEFUL to Ben & Jerry’s for making ALL of their ice cream without palm oil.
Please note, when looking at the vanilla Breyers flavors, only the Natural Vanilla is a palm oil free product. Their Extra Creamy Vanilla, French Vanilla, and Homemade Vanilla contain Mono- and Diglycerides.
Choose ice cream with as few ingredients as possible unless you are choosing Ben & Jerry’s.
See ice cream without palm oil for some flavors from Breyers, Tillamook and Alden’s Organic. We researched 18 ice cream brands and 250+ cartons of ice cream. We found 20 different palm oil derivatives and ingredients in them.
Palm oil derivatives to watch for in ice cream include: Mono & Diglycerides, Propylene Glycol Monoesters, Polysorbate 80, and Vitamin A Palmitate.
Marshmallows without palm oil
- Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows: regular size and miniature
For palm oil free s’mores, we use:
- Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows
- Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar: any size
- Honey Maid Grahams (Many other brands contain palm oil and palm oil derivatives such as DATEM.)
Meat strips, jerky
- Epic Bar: all of these products are made without palm oil
- Bites
- Bits
- Pork Skins
- Hunt & Harvest Mix
- Snack Strips
Milk
Look for milk without Vitamin A Palmitate. I have had luck choosing organic whole milk as well as non-organic whole milk.
Milk that is fat free, skim, 1%, 2% are usually required to be fortified with Vitamin A. Read labels before buying nut milks and plant milks which often contain palm oil and derivatives as well.
Nut butters and peanut butter
- Wild Friends Foods: all
- Spread the Love Foods: They make all of their products without palm oil and label their nut butters ‘Palm Oil Free’ which demonstrates how important it is to them. Naked Organic Peanut Butter, Naked Crunch Organic Peanut Butter, Unsalted Almond Butter, Unsalted Crunch Almond Butter
- Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter Co: They have all palm oil free products. Creamy Peanut Butter, Crunchy Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Cashew ButterWild Friends: All of their products are made without palm oil. Classic Creamy Peanut Butter, Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter, Peanut Cashew Super Butter, Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter. They also made palm free Sunflower, Almond and Super Butters. (They are certified as Palm Oil Free products.)
- Teddie All Natural: All of theirs are palm oil free: Creamy, Crunchy, Organic, and with Flaxseed
RX Nut Butter: Honey Cinnamon Nut Butter, Peanut Butter, Vanilla Almond ButterI no longer trust RXBAR because of their Natural Flavors- Trader Joe’s: Organic Peanut Butter Creamy (Salted or Unsalted) Valencia, Organic Peanut Butter Crunchy (Salted or Unsalted) Valencia
- Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value, not Organic
- O Organics: Chunky Peanut Butter
- Skippy: Creamy Peanut Butter, Crunchy Peanut Butter, Honey Roasted Nut Creamy, Singles Creamy. Skippy’s NATURAL LINE CONTAINS PALM OIL.
See our list of peanut butter without palm oil.
Watch marketing buzzwords. “No Stir” and “No Need to Stir Labels” means they contain palm oil.
Also, don’t buy products labeled Peanut Butter Spread which also contains palm oil (plus many more ingredients).
If you have a high-performance food processor, you can easily learn how to make peanut butter and nut butters as well.
Nutrition bars, snack bars, granola bars & fruit bars
Avoid chewy, coated, and “filled” bars. Also, watch for Glycerin, Glycerine, and Tocopherols, typically made from palm oil. Don’t be persuaded by “healthy-looking” packaging.
Please see my updated post about granola bars without palm oil. Many companies who made them palm oil free, no longer do. I have been buying Thunderbird, GoRaw, or making my own homemade date bars.
- Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars: Maple Brown Sugar, Oats & Honey, Peanut Butter. See my post about Nature Valley Granola Bars to learn about the ingredients in their Crunchy bars.
- Thunderbird Bar: Chocolate Almond Butter Sea Salt, Cashew Fig Carrot, Hazelnut Coffee Maca, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Yaupon Matcha Moringa, Snickerdoodle Cashew Tahini, Pecan Goji Pistachio, Chili Pepita Pineapple, Chocolate Coconut Cashew, Texas Maple Pecan
- GoRaw: Organic Sprouted Bar: Pumpkin Seed or Spirulina Sesame
- Unfortunately, Enjoy Life Foods stopped making their Certified Palm Oil Free products
:Crispy Grain & Seed: Banana Caramel, Chocolate Marshmallow, Cranberry Orange, Maple Sweet PotatoProtein Bites: Sunseed Butter, Dark Raspberry, Cinnamon Spice, Dipped Banana
- Purely Elizabeth: Grain-Free SuperFood in Banana Nut Butter, Peanut Butter, Coconut Cashew, Chocolate Sea Salt
- Bon Bee Honey: Gourmet Honey Bar Peanut Pecan (formerly called Honey Bunchies Peanut Pecan Honey Bar)
- Read ingredients before buying KIND bars
- Pressed by KIND Fruit Bars: Cherry Apple Chia, Mango Apple Chia, Pineapple Banana Kale Spinach, Strawberry Apple Cherry Chia
- KIND Sweet & Spicy Bars: Roasted Jalapeno, Korean Chili, Chipotle Honey Mustard
- KIND Bars: Almond & Coconut, Almond Coconut Cashew Chai, Maple Glazed Pecan & Sea Salt, Honey Roasted Nuts & Sea Salt, Madagascar Vanilla Almond, Raspberry Cashew & Chia, Almond & Apricot, Apple Cinnamon & Pecan, Fruit & Nut; Peanut Butter & Strawberry
- I no longer buy or trust: Clif Z Bars now include Tocopherols which I believe are made from palm oil.
Clif Kid Organic Z Bar: Caramel Chocolate, Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Chip, Iced Oatmeal Cookie, Iced Lemon Cookie, S’mores
- I no longer buy or trust RXBAR and what makes up their Natural Flavors.
Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Sea Salt, Coconut Chocolate, Coffee Chocolate, Maple Sea Salt, Mint Chocolate, Mixed Berry, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter ChocolateRXBAR Kids: Apple Cinnamon Raisin, Berry Blast, PB&J, Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, Peanut Butter Chocolate
- Van’s Foods is no longer making bars. Their Van’s Foods Gluten Free Cranberry Almond snack bars were excellent
Note: While Enjoy Life Crispy Grain & Seed bars were the first in the United States to certify some products palm oil free, they have discontinued them. Enjoy Life had also earned the Palm Oil Free certification for four flavors of their Protein Bites.
They had applied for and earned the certification from the International Palm Oil Free Certification Accreditation Program (POFCAP).
Oatmeal and Oats
Like other raw and whole, real foods, oats are palm oil free. Be sure to choose “plain” oats. Read labels before buying instant oatmeal in packets and cups. Many brands are fortified with Vitamin A Palmitate, a palm oil derivative.
Popcorn
All microwave popcorn contains palm oil.
- Angie’s A Boom Chicka Pop: Sea Salt, Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn, Light Kettle Corn, Salted Caramel, Buttery Caramel
- Lesser Evil Organic Popcorn: Avocado-licious; Classic Cheddar; Himalayan Pink; Himalayan Gold; Oh My Ghee!; Jalapeno ‘n Honey; Himalayan Sweetness
- Popcornopolis: Nearly Naked Gourmet
Watch out for seasonal flavors which may contain palm oil. For more information, see our list of popcorn without palm oil or make your own.
Potato chips
- Cape Cod Kettle Cooked Potato Chips: Original; Waffle Cut Sea Salt; Waves Sea Salt; Waves 40% Reduced Fat Sea Salt
- Lay’s Potato Chips: Classic; Kettle Cooked Original; Lightly Salted Classic; Lightly Salted Wavy Original
- Lesser Evil: Perfectly Salted; Salt & Apple Cider Vinegar; Jalapeno ‘n Honey
Avoid potato crisps and chips in cans. Canned potato snacks typically contain Mono- and Diglycerides sourced from palm oil. Also avoid shoestring potatoes and potato sticks which typically contain palm oil ingredients.
Read labels before buying organic potato chips as they usually contain organic palm oil or organic red palm oil.
Pretzels
Watch for pretzels in plastic containers. Many list “palm oil” in the ingredients.
- Rold Gold
- Braided Honey Wheat, Rods Original, Sticks Original
- Thin Crisps: Buffalo Wing, Garlic Parmesan, Honey Dijon
- Tiny Twists: Original, Cheddar, Honey Mustard
- Snack Factory
- Everything, Garlic Parmesan, Honey Mustard & Onion, Sesame, Original, Original Minis, Organic Original
Snyder’s of HanoverTHEY NOW CONTAIN PALM OIL!Mini Pretzels, Sticks Pretzels, Snaps Pretzels, Butter Snaps, Rods Pretzels, Thins Pretzels, Olde Tyme, Homestyle, Dipping Sticks, Sourdough Hard PretzelsBraided Twists: Honey Wheat, Ancient Grain, Blueberry
- SUPERPRETZEL Soft Pretzel
- Original, Pretzel Bites, Multigrain
Read labels before buying pretzels. More and more brands are using palm oil now. Especially read labels when you are looking for gluten-free varieties. Manufacturers often use DATEM or palm oil as a replacement.
Also, some single serving bags and often holiday varieties contain palm oil. There is more information in our pretzels without palm oil post.
Puffs
- Lesser Evil Grain Free: “No Cheese” Cheesiness; Apple Cider Vinegar; Himalayan Pink Salt
Snacks
I have a post dedicated to snacks without palm oil.
Spices without palm oil
- Red Ape Cinnamon
- Ground Cinnamon; Cinnamon Sticks, Cassia Cinnamon Chips
- Ginger Tea Bag Cut; Ground Ginger
- Turmeric Pieces; Ground Turmeric
All of Red Ape Cinnamon’s products listed in this post have been certified Palm Oil Free by the International Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark (POFCAP).
Even if spices don’t list palm oil in the ingredients, you won’t know if they are derived from palm oil sources unless you verify with the company.
Note, “Natural Flavors” in spices (and all products) can include palm oil.
Taco shells without palm oil
I have Ortega Yellow Corn Taco Shells (12 Yellow Corn Shells; 4.9 oz (140g); Best By: APR 20 2023; UPC code: 41501 51945) at home and the ingredients are: Yellow Corn Masa Flour (Yellow Corn Flour, Hydrated Lime), High Oleic Canola Oil and/or Corn Oil, Water, Salt.
However, the Ortega Taco Shells I saw in the grocery store included palm oil. I will update with more information. I bought Signature Select Yellow Taco Shells which is a Safeway brand.
- Ortega Taco Shells: (Be sure to read all ingredients, for all products, especially for their whole wheat and flour tortillas and their hard shell tacos. Many of their taco shell products contain Mono- and Diglycerides as well as Glycerin which are palm oil derivatives.)
- Yellow Corn Taco Shells: 12 pack do not contain palm oil. However, the same product in an 18 count box, Ortega Yellow Corn Taco Shells in 18 count box, DO CONTAIN PALM OIL. Ortega White Corn Taco Shells in 12 count contain palm oil as well.
- Trader Joe’s Organic Stone Ground Yellow Corn Taco Shells
- Check store brands as well. Signature Select Taco Shells (Safeway) haven’t contained palm oil.
Read labels and choose palm oil free taco shells. You should be able to find them.
Watch for the brand that advertises their taco shells are “Made With 3 Ingredients.” Usually, that is a good thing as the less ingredients usually means less chance of palm oil. However, in this case, one of the three ingredients IS palm oil.
Yeast
- Red Star Active Dry All Natural Yeast: 3 pack
All other yeasts we found — in jars and in packets — contains Sorbitan Monostearate. This can be a palm oil derivative.
You have to check with the companies to find out if it contains or was treated with palm oil.
Red Star’s Active Dry Yeast in the packets contains just Yeast.
Yogurt without palm oil
- Activa: Black Cherry, Blueberry, Strawberry, Mixed Berry (big pack at Costco)
- Chobani Greek Yogurt: (20 pack from Costco)
- Peach on the Bottom
- Blueberry on the Bottom
- Strawberry on the Bottom
- Black Cherry on the Bottom
These are the yogurts we buy; we believe them to be palm oil free.
Watch for Vitamin A Palmitate on yogurt labels. Oftentimes, “light yogurt” contains Vitamin A Palmitate. In addition, yogurt with add-ins — candy, cookies, sugary ingredients– all contain palm oil. Buy yogurts without mix-ins.
Palm Oil Free Personal Care Products
Conditioner without palm oil
- Ethique (all conditioners and all products)
- The Guardian (for frizzy, dry or damaged hair)
- Wonderbar (oily or normal hair)
- The Eco Alchemist (all conditioners and all products)
- Viva La Body: They stopped making their conditioner and shampoo bars because Brassica alcohol is not longer available palm oil free due to supply chain issues. They stopped making 30+ products because of this! This demonstrates Viva La Body’s commitment to keeping their products certified Palm Oil Free.
Cosmetics
Most all beauty items in stores have palm oil ingredients. At long last we were able to find makeup and cosmetics that are palm oil free.
- Axiology
- Lipstick: They offer 30 palm oil free lipsticks in neutrals, pinks, oranges, reds, purples, and more.
- Crayons: They have six colorful shades.
They clearly list all of their ingredients on their website. They use organic coconut oil, organic avocado oil, and organic castor oil instead of palm oil.
- Fat and the Moon
- Highlighter, tint
- Lip color
- Cheek color
- Hurraw! Aura Balm
Hurraw! makes their products with vegan, organic and raw ingredients. Their Aura Balms are coconut-based. You can use them on brow ridges, cheeks, collarbones — on skin where you want some color.
See our post, Palm Oil Free Makeup, for more products and info.
Cosmetics without palm oil in Australia
- Adorn Cosmetics
- Anti-Aging SPF 20+ Mineral Foundation
- Cheeky Mineral Blush
- Classic Mineral Lipsticks
- Loose Mineral Brow Define
- Loose Mineral Eye Shadow
- Natural Glow Mineral Bronzer
- Oil Control Mineral Setting Powder
Adorn Cosmetics certified these products Palm Oil Free through Orangutan Alliance.
- Sugar Venom (all of their products)
- Lips & Cheeks
- Eye pencil
- Mascara
- Foundation
- Eye shadow
All of Sugar Venom’s products earned Palm Oil Free certification from the Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark (POFCAP). Learn more info about palm oil free makeup in Australia in the above post.
Deodorant
- Booda Organics Booda Butter Cream Deodorant (cream)
- Ethique
- Lavender & Vanilla (bar)
- Spearmint & Lime (bar)
- Fat and the Moon
- Deodorant Cream
- Sensitive Pit Cream
- Schmidt’s: (solid stick)
- Schmidt’s Fragrance Free Natural Deodorant
- Bergamot + Lime
- Lavender + Sage
- Ylang-Ylang Calendula
- Charcoal + Magnesium
- The Eco Alchemist
- Viva La Body Deodorant Tubes (compostable):
- Patchouli Rose
- Lemongrass + Basil
- Cinnamon + Patchouli
- Sensitive Neutral Scent
- Lavender Fresh
See our list of deodorant without palm oil and learn to watch out for these ingredients: Propylene Glycol; Tocopherols without the source; Triglycerides without the source; Vitamin E without the source; Steareth – 100; Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride; Sodium Stearate; Stearyl Alcohol
Lip balm
- Badger Balm: All of them are palm free
- Booda Butter Naked Lip Balm
- Dunnock and Hinny: Rose Mint and Lavender
- Fat and the Moon:
- Lip Salve
- Ruby Red Tinted Balm
- Freedom Soap Co.
- Orange + Rosemary
- Peppermint
- Tea Tree
- Sweet Orange
- Hurraw!
- Moon Lip Balm: Blue Chamomile Vanilla
- Sun Lip Balm: SPF 15 Tangerine Chamomile
- Unscented
- Baobab Banana
- Echium Raspberry Tinted Lip Balm
- Papaya Pineapple Lip Balm
- Simply Eden
- Peppermint with Zinc
- Unflavored
- Sweet Orange Chili Pepper
- Chai
- Sinus Eze
- Cucumber Melon
- Coffee Bean
- Peppermint
- Unearth Malee
- Viva La Body
- Raspberry & Rosehip
- Chamomile & Cocoa
- Spearmint & Hemp
Watch for Tocopherols. Unless they include the source, they are often made with palm oil. The Tocopherols in Hurraw! are sourced from sunflower.
Learn more by checking out lip balm without palm oil.
Lipstick without palm oil
See the Cosmetics without palm oil section above. Axiology advertises they are palm oil free.
Medicine
This is not medical advice. Please discuss with your healthcare professional. See our post for medicine without palm oil. We were able to acquire it by going to a compounding pharmacy.
Look at the OTC tablets, capsules and liquids in your home. They likely contain palm oil derivatives which are listed in the above-mentioned post. Two common ingredients to watch for and avoid include Magnesium Stearate and Propylene Glycol.
Moisturizer and lotion
- Booda Organics
- Booda Butter Pure Daily Moisturizer
- Tub of Love
- Ethique
- Coconut + Lime Butter Block
- Jasmine & Ylang Ylang Butter Block
- Peppermint & Tea Tree (foot balm without palm oil)
- Love Baby Bar
- Fat and the Moon
- All Cream
- Aloe Lotion
- Face Oil
- Love Thyself Bod Oil
- Moon Fat Bod Oil
- Freedom Soap Co.
- Whipped Shea Butter
- Kilted Suds
- Citrus with Hemp Seed Oil
- French Vanilla
- Lilac & Lily
- and many more!
- Unearth Malee Organic Lotion Bar
- Jasmine Mint
- Lavender Chai
- Ginger Lemongrass
- Prickly Pear
- Patchouli Orange
In Australia: Honestly: Baby Lotion Bar
In Scotland: Amaranthine
-
- Body Creme
- Cleansing Balm
All of Amaranthine’s products have earned Palm Oil Free certification from the International Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark Programme.
See our post, lotion without palm oil for more information and products.
Shampoo
- Kilted Suds: all shampoo bars
- Fat and the Moon Lavender and Cocoa Dry Shampoo
- Unearth Malee: shampoo bars
- Viva La Body: (in Australia) They stopped making their 9 shampoo bars because they were unable to source palm oil free Brassica alcohol.
- Ethique shampoo:
- Frizz Wrangler
- Heali Kiwi
- Oaty Delicious (for kids)
- Pinkalicious (for Normal hair)
- Saint Clements (for Oily Hair)
On a personal note, I couldn’t decide which Ethique shampoo and conditioner to choose. I bought their sample set.
Each box comes with three of Ethique’s palm oil free shampoos and two of their palm oil free conditioners. It’s been a great way to try some of Ethique’s palm oil free products. They are all high quality, easy to use, and work really well.
Since then, they offer smaller sample sets with two shampoos and one conditioner bar.
See shampoo without palm oil for more information about what palm oil ingredients to watch for.
Shaving
- Ethique Tip to Toe Shampoo and Shaving Bar
- EmpireSquid
- PreShave Oil
- MacSplash Aftershave Oil
- Beard Oil Healing Blend
- Fat and the Moon Olive and Clay Shave Cream
- Freedom Soap
- Beard Balm
- Beard Oil
- Shave Soap
- Urthly Organics (Australia)
- Viva la Body Solid Shave Bar (Australia): They stopped making their Shave Bar because it contained Brassica alcohol which is no longer available palm oil free. Kukos to Viva La Body for staying true to their mission.
You will have a better chance finding a shaving bars / soap and oil instead of a shaving cream. We have more palm oil free options and information in palm oil free shaving.
Soap
- Booda Organics: Booda Butter All-In-One-Soap
- Freedom Soap Co: all bars
- Kilted Suds: all bars
- Kiss My Face: Only these bars below are palm oil free. Their other bars may say “palm oil free” on them, but I’m not certain they are. Read more in my Soap without Palm Oil post.
- Pure Olive Oil Soap
- Olive Oil & Aloe Soap
- Olive Oil & Lavender Soap
- Milk Relief Soap
- Remwood Products Co: Grandma’s Baking Soda Soap
- Ethique: all of their bar soaps
- Unearth Malee: all bars
- Viva La Body: (Australian) all bars are Certified Palm Oil Free
Read soap without palm oil for more information. Glycerin in soap is usually from palm oil. You will have a difficult time finding liquid soap without palm oil.
Sunscreen
- EmpireSquid LifeGuard Sunscreen
- Facial
- Organic
- Red Raspberry
- Kiss My Face
- Organics Mineral Face + Body SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion
- Organics Kids Defense Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion
- W.S. Badger
- Sport Sunscreen Stick
- Kids Sport Sunscreen Stick
There are typically palm oil derivatives in sprays, lotions, creams and sticks. Even organic and healthy-seeming brands contain palm oil derivatives.
Some ingredients to watch out for in sunscreen include: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
See sunscreen without palm oil for more palm oil free options.
Toothpaste
- Bite Toothpaste Bits: Fresh Mint, Mint with Activated Charcoal, Berry Twist. It’s easy to order through their website. Bite Toothpaste Bits are certified Palm Oil Free by Orangutan Alliance.
- Grin Natural Toothpaste: Made in New Zealand but they ship in the USA and are sometimes available at TJMaxx. Grin Natural Toothpaste is certified Palm Oil Free by Orangutan Alliance.
- Davids Premium Natural Toothpaste
- Redmond Earthpaste: Peppermint with Charcoal, Spearmint, Cinnamon, Lemon Twist, Peppermint, Wintergreen
Ingredients to watch out for in toothpaste include Glycerin, Vegetable Glycerin, Sodium Laurel Sulfate, and Propylene Glycol, all palm oil derivatives. Learn more at toothpaste without palm oil.
Baby Products
Infant formula without palm oil
LittleOak Infant Formula is the first infant formula in the world to be certified palm oil free. It is available in New Zealand.
See our list of baby products without palm oil.
Pet Products
See our list of pet products without palm oil for certified Palm Oil Free products for pets, including dogs, cats, and horses.
See our list of certified palm oil free dog shampoo for products from Ethique, The Australian Soap Company (in Australia), and Zeez Beez (in the UK).
Cleaning Products Without Palm Oil
All-purpose cleaner
- Cleancult All-Purpose Cleaner; All-Purpose Cleaner Refill
- Puracy Natural Spray Cleaner
Please read ingredients before buying cleaning sprays. Many now spell out they contain Palm Kernel Oil in addition to palm oil derivatives without “palm” in the name. So please avoid these sprays.
Dish soap
- Cleancult Liquid Dish Soap Lemongrass; Liquid Dish Soap Refill
- Puracy Dish Soap
Dishwasher
- Cleancult Dishwater Liquid
- Puracy Dishwasher Tablets
See palm oil free cleaning products for more information about these products.
Laundry soap
- Booda Organics Suds of Love Laundry Soap (powder)
- Cleancult Liquid Laundry Detergent (refillable liquid)
- Ethique: Flash Laundry Bar (to clean by hand); can also use on dishes
- Puracy Laundry Detergent
- Pure Soap Flake Company
- Unearth Malee: (32 – 64 loads; powder)
- Lavender Lemongrass Detergent
- Thai Lime Eucalyptus
- Unearth Malee Organic Laundry Stain Stick
- Urthly Organics (Australia)
See our list of palm oil free laundry detergent and laundry soap for companies and products in the US and Australia.
Cleaning without chemicals
- Norwex:
- EnviroCloth
- Polishing Cloth
- Dusting Mitt
- Many more
Norwex uses anti-bacterial silver in their cloths. You use them for counters, floors, sinks, appliances, and more. They are great for the kitchen and the bathroom. They also have one for windows and floors.
When you use them, you don’t need to use chemical-laden and palm oil-laden sprays. Norwex cloths are among our favorite items to use.
Cleaning products
In the United States, Cleancult and Puracy are the only brands we found to offer palm oil free products. They confirmed they are all palm oil free.
Please note, even natural, eco-friendly-seeming brands contain them. Spray cleaners often contain “plant-derived cleaning agents” which are typically made with palm oil derivatives.
To clean without palm oil use:
- Spray bottle with vinegar and water: Clean kitchen, bathrooms, windows, floors
- Baking soda: Clean sinks
- Lemon: Look online for ways to use lemon for cleaning
Use a Swiffer Sweeper stick with reusable microfiber cloth instead. Use it to mop your floors without chemicals.
Palm oil free cleaning products in the United Kingdom
HumbleStuff: This is a company in Scotland. They ship throughout the UK. Their products have been certified palm oil free by the Orangutan Alliance.
- Soft Cleaning Paste
- Lemon Myrtle Multi-Purpose Spray
- Refill for Multi-Purpose Spray
Candles
In the United States:
- Flying Farm Candles:
- Caramel Apple
- Cranberry Spice
- Frosted Sugar Cookie
- Peppermint Cocoa
- Rose Petals
- Southern Pecan Pie
- Sweet Cornbread
- The Fanciful Fox:
- Gingerbread
- Eucalyptus Lemongrass
- Lemon Parsley
- Vanilla
- Lemon Sage Ginger
- Unearth Malee
The Flying Farm, LLC makes 100% soy wax candles and melts. They never use paraffin or palm wax. They have 40+ varieties.
The Fanciful Fox makes palm oil free candles made with 100% soy wax. They offer 20+ palm oil free candle varieties.
You must look for candles with 100% ______ labeling, as in 100% Soy Wax, 100% Beeswax. Don’t be swayed by seeing “Made with Soy” or “Made with Coconut” in the labeling. They usually also contain palm oil. Learn more about finding palm oil free candles and which to buy.
In Australia:
- Cocolux Australia: Pure Copper, Coconut Oil Candle
They use coconut and beeswax instead of palm oil. Based in Australia, they offer free international shipping.
Most candles use palm oil. Read labels. Reach out to companies to ask the source of their ingredients.
Palm Oil Free Products List
It is increasingly difficult to find palm oil free products. In the US, the FDA has required manufacturers to eliminate trans fats from processed foods. Companies have turned to palm oil as the replacement. Demand for palm oil continues to rise.
In addition to foods, manufacturers rely on palm oil ingredients in cleaning products. It is a challenge to find laundry detergents, spray cleaners, dish soap, and dish wash detergent without palm oil.
It’s also difficult to find palm oil free self-care and personal care items.
Palm oil is prevalent in soap, shampoo, shaving cream, lotion, deodorant, sunscreen, toothpaste, and cosmetics.
Even if you don’t give it up completely, there are ways to use less palm oil each week. Learn how to make canned frosting better without more palm oil.
Companies Who Don’t Use Palm Oil
These companies make all of their products palm oil without palm oil. Unless they are palm oil free certified, this list is not guaranteed:
- Axiology Beauty
- Ben & Jerry’s
- Booda Organics
- Davids
- Divine Chocolate
- EmpireSquid Organics
- Erin Baker’s
- Ethique – Certified Palm Oil Free
- Fig & Fogg
- Freedom Soap Co. – Certified Palm Oil Free
- Grin Naturals
- HumbleStuff (UK)
- Hurraw!
- Kilted Suds
- Lesser Evil
- Mokosh – Certified Palm Oil Free
- Nelly’s Organics
- Nocciolata USA
- Pure Soap Flakes
- Spread the Love Foods
- Sugar Venom (Australia)
- The Australian Natural Soap Company (Australia)
- The Eco Alchemist (Canada) – Certified Palm Oil Free
- The Donegal Soap Company (Ireland) – Certified Palm Oil Free
- The Fanciful Fox
- Viva La Body (Australia) – Certified Palm Oil Free
- Zeez Beez (UK) – Certified Palm Oil Free
Why Choose Palm Oil Free Products
There are many reasons consumers look for palm oil free options. Many people choose to avoid palm oil for the environmental concerns and due to the concerns about sustainable palm oil.
Others avoid it for health concerns. According to EatingWell, palm oil and palm kernel oil are high in saturated fat.
Other consumers choose palm oil free products because they experience allergic reactions or get sick from palm oil.
If you experience reactions to it, please take a moment to report your symptoms to the FDA. They make it easy to complete online via their form. You should have as much information about the product as possible. It’s fast and will hopefully make a difference.
Support Palm Oil Free Products
Read labels every time. Often, companies change their ingredients.
Read labels and buy the palm oil free products. Vote with your dollars.
Learn why companies use palm oil so you can look for palm free versions. Sometimes you can make your own. Print this list to learn other names for palm oil.
How to support palm oil free products
As consumers, there is a lot we can do to support products without palm oil. Together, we can:
- Go on social media and tell companies palm oil free products are important.
- Ask companies for palm oil free alternatives.
- Go on social media and ask companies why their products contain palm oil.
- Read ingredient labels before you buy anything.
- Buy palm oil free products and brands.
- Find companies who don’t use any palm oil, and be loyal to them.
- Thank companies who are making their products palm oil free. (First, be sure there aren’t palm oil derivatives in them.)
You can also email companies. However, most often, you will be contacting a customer service representative. You won’t know if your message is getting past this person to the decision-makers within the company.
Reach out to companies
Often, when we email companies, we get canned, generic answers back from them. Many reply with their “sustainable palm oil” policy without seeming to read the questions. It’s only when we delve further that we reach someone with more authority to get accurate information.
This is why we suggest you email them but also contact them professionally on social media. You may attract more attention to your message.
We continue to contact companies to confirm their products are palm oil free. Take a look around our site for lots more information about how to find palm oil free products.
Check back often for this updated list of palm oil free products. We update this website daily.
Please note, this is not meant to be medical advice. Consult with your healthcare provider.
We sourced this list after looking at ingredient labels and comparing them against lists of hundreds of names for palm oil ingredients and derivatives. We contact companies to inquire about their specific products that seem to be made without palm oil. As they write back, we continue to update and note when they confirm their products are palm oil free.
Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark Labeling
However, the only way to know a product is 100% palm oil free is if it is has earned the Palm Oil Free Certification from the Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark or the Orangutan Alliance.
Before you buy anything, read the labels while you are in the store. Buy the products that don’t list palm oil and palm oil derivatives. Read labels every time. This list is meant to be a starting point and is not guaranteed. Use it as a starting point. Please do your own due diligence.
Also, we always are updating and adding to this list as we find palm oil free products.
Continue to be a proactive consumer. Let companies know you are paying attention. Vote with your dollars by buying the palm oil free versions.
Please leave your Comments below with tips, palm oil free products you have found, or anything to help build awareness. Thank you!
Related: Costco foods without palm oil – what we buy
Kathy
Wednesday 24th of July 2024
Thank you for this article. I appreciate all the information you have given as well as the lengthy research you have done.
editor
Sunday 28th of July 2024
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Kathy! I am glad you found my site and appreciate you being interested in finding products without palm oil.
jill allison
Wednesday 15th of November 2023
O Organics sells peanut butter with the ingredient "organic palm oil" listed. Is this palm oil that is produced in a more healthy way or just a scam?
editor
Wednesday 15th of November 2023
I don't know how organic palm oil is grown, sourced, or produced. I would hope it would be "certified organic" but don't know if that means it was grown responsibly or not.
Albertson's website (owner of O Organics) has a statement in their Responsible Sourcing section acknowledging some of the environmental and social consequences with palm oil. They also state how they are a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Many consider the group a greenwashing effort to appear to be using sustainable palm oil so that may or not be considered positive.
GlutenFree&Happy
Thursday 16th of March 2023
I found the ingredient list for the Nature's Own Perfectly Crafted Hot Dog Rolls Brioche Style - 8 ct. Sadly, it was not listed on on the manufacturer’s website. However, I found the ingredients listed on Giant foods website and one other website and they were the same in both places. I suggest visiting Giantfood. com to double check it for yourself. Here is what I have copied from GiantFood. com. I hope it helps!
Nature's Own Perfectly Crafted Hot Dog Rolls Brioche Style Ingredients Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Sugar, Yeast, Butter (a Trivial Source Of Cholesterol) (Made From Milk), Wheat Gluten, Contains 2% Or Less Of Each Of The Following: Salt, Cultured Wheat Flour, Sunflower Lecithin, Monocalcium Phosphate, Vegetable Oil (Sunflower Oil, Canola Oil, Soybean Oil), Enzymes, Vegetable Proteins (Pea, Potato, Faba Bean), Sesame Flour, Annatto, Turmeric, Ascorbic Acid, Corn Dextrose, Corn Maltodextrins, Corn Starch.
Mandy
Tuesday 7th of February 2023
I wanted to share our experience. My daughter is sensitive to lactose, but has been having severe stomach issues, even eating lactose free. After keeping a food diary, I have decided it is palm oil that she is sensitive to. So, 12/2022 I purchased. Berkey water filter. Every since then, she has complained of the water making her sick, then my son also said the same thing. they had indigestion, and sulfur burps. I called the company and discovered the black Berkey filters are made from coconut shell. She also ate a vegan coconut crunch cookie from Publix and got sick. So, I believe there is a strong possibility she is allergic to palm, and coconut. Just a heads up, that many ppl have gotten sick from coconut filters since I have investigated it. Thanks for allowing me to share.
editor
Wednesday 8th of February 2023
Thank you for sharing! That's really surprising to hear about the coconut filters.
Emily
Thursday 8th of December 2022
Is there a hot cocoa brand in stores that doesn’t have palm oil or would you have to homemake mix? I haven’t been able to find one.
editor
Monday 12th of December 2022
Thanks for writing in. I do not know of any and do homemade like you mentioned. It's pretty simple because I always have granulated sugar and cocoa powder on hand. In addition, there are fewer ingredients this way. Sometimes I add pure vanilla extract.
As you likely know, Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate Flavor Hot Cocoa Mix and Swiss Miss Marshmallow Hot Cocoa Mix (along with other Swiss Miss flavors and varieties and common in stores) contain many more ingredients. They include Mono- & Diglycerides (typically made with palm oil in most products) and Natural Flavors (difficult to know if it contains palm oil because companies don't usually spell out what makeup Natural Flavors unless they are of higher quality and very rarely if they are made with palm oil because it's such a controversial ingredient and topic).
Target sells Good & Gather Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix. It contains Sugar, Cocoa processed with Alkali, and Natural Flavor. I'd be leery to purchase this because they haven't spelled out where the peppermint is coming from. It would have to be in the "Natural Flavor" because they aren't spelling out "Pure Peppermint Extract." Oftentimes in liquids, companies use Glycerin (which is often made from palm oil).
I did an online search at Whole Foods. They sell 360 Whole Foods Market Organic Hot Cocoa Rich Chocolate Flavor Mix. Ingredients: Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Nonfat Dry Milk, Organic Cocoa Powder (processed with Alkali), Sea Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Xanthan Gum, Organic Natural Flavors (Organic Cane Sugar, Natural Flavors).
They don't spell out the ingredients in the organic nonfat dry milk nor do they fully spell out what makes up the Natural Flavors (even when they start to!).