Belgian potato processors are forced to rely on palm oil

Published 2022년 1월 16일

Tridge summary

The Belgian potato trade and processing industry is facing a severe crisis due to a sunflower oil shortage, with the situation described as 'acute' by the industry's interest group, Belgapom. The shortage is largely due to the war in Ukraine and Russia, which together provide 75% of the sunflower oil used in the industry. As a result, processors are seeking alternative oils, such as palm oil, which leads to higher prices and sustainability concerns. The industry is also grappling with the need to change labels due to the shift to palm oil, which has more saturated fats. The Belgian government is also aware of the issue, highlighting it as an example of the challenges faced by companies due to rising energy and commodity prices, and plans to investigate the war's impact on various sectors.

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Original content

The Belgian interest group for the potato trade and processing industry Belgapom confirms the shortage of sunflower oil. Director Cristophe Vermeulen describes the situation as 'an acute crisis'. According to him, it is currently all hands on deck with the potato processors. The processing industry generally uses sunflower oil to process potatoes into chips on chips. 75 percent of the sunflower oil used comes from Ukraine or Russia, where the markets have been severely disrupted by the war. 'Two weeks ago, companies still had stocks for six weeks', says Vermeulen. Alternatives Due to the scarcity of sunflower oil, processors are looking for alternatives and in the first instance end up with palm oil. As a result, the prices for the alternatives, such as palm oil, also go up. In addition, palm oil is less sustainable than sunflower oil. Vermeulen says that producers must also change their labels due to the switch to palm oil. This has to do with the difference in the amount of ...

Source: Nieuwe Oogst