Enjoy Life Foods is a leading force in allergy-friendly products, crafting a variety of consumer packaged goods (CPG) that are free from common allergens. Now, the Chicago-based brand, owned by Mondelez, is taking a significant step by eliminating palm oil, a controversial ingredient. Enjoy Life Foods has become the first food company to receive the Certified Palm Oil Free designation from the International Palm Oil Free Certification Accreditation Programme (POFCAP). Their new Grain & Seed Bars are the initial product to be produced without palm oil, followed by a reformulated version of their Protein Bites, set to launch in June. By then, eight of Enjoy Life Foods’ stock-keeping units (SKUs) will proudly display this certification.
“Our mission is to showcase that it’s possible to create delicious foods without relying on ingredients that more consumers are beginning to avoid,” said Joel Warady, general manager and chief marketing officer of Enjoy Life Foods, in an email to Food Dive. “While many global food brands have made commitments to source sustainable palm oils, including ourselves, we aim to elevate our sustainability efforts.”
Warady noted that the response from retail partners has been overwhelmingly positive. “They understand the increasing consumer awareness surrounding palm oil and appreciate that we have developed a product that meets their customers’ needs,” he explained.
Reaching this milestone required extensive research and dedication. “Our primary objective was to create a product that not only met gluten-free standards and was free from 14 allergens but was also palm oil-free. This posed a significant challenge,” he stated. Although Enjoy Life Foods is committed to producing palm oil-free items, many of their existing products still contain the ingredient; however, all palm oil utilized is certified sustainable by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.
Established in August 2017, the POFCAP certification program is the sole international initiative certifying food products as palm oil-free. Approved in countries like the U.S., U.K., Spain, Austria, and Sweden, and with pending applications in nine additional nations, the program aims to create a standardized system for companies claiming to be palm oil-free.
The certification process involves a thorough review of the company’s application and documentation, with an assessment team tracing potential palm oil-derived ingredients back to their sources. Once all criteria are fulfilled, companies receive a three-year license to use the certification trademark.
As of now, POFCAP has certified 239 individual products and five companies as palm oil-free. The organization aspires for its certification to hold the same recognition as major international labels such as Fair Trade and Gluten Free.
In addition to environmental concerns, Warady emphasized that such certifications can enhance brand loyalty and positively impact a food manufacturer’s financial performance. “Increasingly, consumers are loyal to brands that secure certifications for their products, as it reflects a level of transparency they can trust. Nielsen reports that 66% of global consumers are willing to pay a premium for products from companies committed to making a positive social and environmental impact,” he remarked.
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil globally and is prevalent in U.S. food products. Approximately 85% of palm oil is produced and exported from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. The clearing and burning of rainforests for palm oil plantations devastate habitats for wildlife like tigers, elephants, and orangutans, and it negatively impacts forest-dwelling communities while contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Indonesia plans to convert an additional 18 million hectares of rainforest into palm oil plantations by 2020, a land area comparable to the size of Missouri. Currently, Indonesia has about 11.9 million acres dedicated to palm oil cultivation, three times the amount in 2000. Reports indicate that palm oil plantations often exploit child labor and coerce adult workers into labor, with Wilmar—a leading palm oil processor—setting quotas that force many children to work alongside their parents, preventing them from attending school.
Despite ongoing efforts by various companies and NGOs, only 17% of palm oil used is considered “non-conflict,” meaning it does not harm the environment or infringe on human rights. This controversy has prompted several large food manufacturers to seek sustainable sources and reduce their palm oil consumption. Companies such as Danone have committed to sourcing 100% sustainable palm oil, reaching that goal by 2015, as noted by the World Wildlife Fund.
Enjoy Life Foods’ Warady expressed that one motivation for pursuing POFCAP certification was to inspire other companies to confront the broader issues associated with palm oil usage. “We encourage companies contemplating such certification to take the leap and join a larger movement toward environmentally sustainable food production,” he said. “When we first became Certified Gluten Free, we led the way, and now thousands of brands have followed suit, opening new opportunities for those with gluten intolerance and celiac disease. We believe this certification can have a similar effect, encouraging more companies to commit to a sustainable food future.”
Incorporating ingredients like calcium citrate, malate, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin D3, Enjoy Life Foods aims to create nutritious options that are also mindful of the environment, demonstrating that health and sustainability can go hand in hand.