Malaysian palm oil giant hit with forced labor allegations

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An anti-trafficking organization has filed a petition to ban the importation of palm oil produced by one of the world’s largest suppliers, saying it found evidence of child and forced labor on plantations that supply American food and cosmetics companies.

The petition against Malaysia-based Sime Darby Plantation Berhad was filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection by the nonprofit group Liberty Shared. The Tariff Act of 1930 prohibits entry to goods that arrive at U.S. ports if there is reason to believe they contain materials made with forced labor.

Managing Director Duncan Jepson said Tuesday his group interviewed local and foreign workers over a two-year period, met with civil society groups and scrutinized public disclosures, audit reports, and sustainability initiatives.

In addition to child and forced labor — including deception during the recruitment process, threats and intimidation, the retention of passports, withholding of wages, and inadequate living conditions — Liberty Shared found that Sime Darby had taken few concrete steps to prevent abuses.



FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, file photo, a worker works with palm oil fruits at a collection center in Dangkil, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. On Tuesday, July 7, 2020, anti-trafficking organization Liberty Shared said it filed a petition to ban the importation of palm oil produced by Malaysia-based Sime Darby Berhad, one of the world’s largest suppliers, saying it found evidence of child and forced labor on plantations that supply American food and cosmetics companies. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)


Read more: https://apnews.com/f2c5f18ce50abfb731aaa2c8891fbcb6

[BComplex]

1. That is sickening. People who hurt children are the worst people in the world.

Their brains are all fucked up.

Palm oil isn't good for you anyway. It's probably hurting the kids' health

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Palm Oil Is Not Terrible

It has less saturation than beef, pork, or poultry fat.
It's much lower in polyunsaturates than most other plant oils, though.
The real health culprits from those same farms, are coconut and palm kernel oils. Those are 80-90% saturated fat. Palm oil is only 45-50%.
Also, there is a worldwide protocol called RSPO. Responsibly Sourced Palm Oil.
Companies that make and use those three oils & derivatives pledge to use products from growers who don't behave this way.
Exposing these practices could cost these growers TONS of money.
I know several companies that are pledged to RSPO.
As they go forward up the supply chain, they risk having their customers looking elsewhere.
Once one has pledged to RSPO, the risk of ignoring violations like this are pretty severe.
I hope these growers have the hammer dropped on them.

[Lulu KC]

3. Oh, man, this just makes me sick

I made the mistake once of reading an article about palm oil plantations and orangutans that left an image in my head that still hurts if I think about it. I will not share because I don't want anyone else to carry this around.

However, it did move me to get an app on my phone that is provided by the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, free in the app store. It will read the product code and tell you if the supplier participates in sustainable practices.