Enjoy Life Foods is a leading brand in allergy-friendly foods, offering various consumer packaged goods (CPG) that are free from common allergens. Now, the Chicago-based company, which is owned by Mondelez, is taking a significant step by eliminating another problematic ingredient: palm oil. Enjoy Life Foods has become the first food company to receive the Certified Palm Oil Free status from the International Palm Oil Free Certification Accreditation Programme (POFCAP). Their new Grain & Seed Bars are the first products to be made without palm oil, and the reformulated Protein Bites, set to launch in June, will be the second. At that point, eight of Enjoy Life Foods’ products will carry the certification.
“Our aim is to showcase that it is possible to create delicious foods without relying on an ingredient that more and more consumers want to avoid,” said Joel Warady, Enjoy Life Foods’ general manager and chief marketing officer, in an email to Food Dive. “While many global food brands, including ours, have committed to sourcing sustainable palm oils, we believe we can elevate our sustainability efforts even further.”
Warady mentioned that the response from retailers has been “overwhelming.” “They understand the increasing consumer awareness surrounding palm oil in products and appreciate that we have developed offerings that meet their consumers’ needs,” he noted. Achieving this milestone required extensive research and dedication.
“The initial challenge was to create a great-tasting product that was gluten-free, free from 14 allergens, and now, importantly, palm oil-free,” he explained. Although the company is committed to producing palm oil-free items, many of its existing products still contain the ingredient, although all the palm oil used is certified sustainable by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.
The POFCAP certification was established in August 2017 and is the only international program that certifies food products as palm oil-free. The independent Australia-based organization has received recognition in the U.S., U.K., Spain, Austria, and Sweden, with applications pending in nine additional countries. “For about a decade, POFCAP team members have worked on the complex issues surrounding palm oil,” co-founder and program manager Bev Luff told Food Dive. “Many companies claim their products are palm oil-free, but until now, there was no internationally recognized, independent certification program, so we created one.” Luff emphasized that the certification is based on individual products rather than entire brands.
After a company applies for certification and submits the necessary documentation, an assessment team conducts a review. They trace any potential palm oil-derived ingredients back to their source. If all criteria are satisfied, the company is granted a three-year license to use the certification trademark. Profits from certification fees are directed to partner organizations focused on supporting rainforests and wildlife in palm oil-producing regions.
So far, POFCAP has certified 239 products and five companies as palm oil-free, with the aim of having its certification trademark recognized alongside other major international certifications like Fair Trade and Gluten Free. Beyond environmental factors, Warady noted that such certifications can enhance brand loyalty and positively impact a food manufacturer’s financial performance.
“Consumers are increasingly loyal to brands that hold certifications for their products, as it reflects transparency and builds trust,” he stated. According to Nielsen, 66% of global consumers are willing to pay a premium for products from companies committed to making a positive social and environmental impact.
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 destruction of rainforests for palm oil plantations threatens wildlife habitats and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, as highlighted by the WWF. The United Nations indicates that palm oil plantations in Southeast Asia are significant contributors to environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.
The Rainforest Action Network reported that Indonesia plans to convert an additional 18 million hectares of rainforest into palm oil plantations by 2020—an area approximately the size of Missouri. In 2016, Indonesia had about 11.9 million acres of palm oil plantations, a tripling since 2000. Additionally, the industry is often associated with child labor and exploitation, as highlighted by a November 2016 report from Amnesty International regarding Wilmar, the world’s leading palm oil processor.
Despite the efforts of numerous companies and NGOs, only 17% of palm oil in use today is considered “non-conflict”—meaning it does not harm the environment or violate human rights. The ongoing controversy has prompted many large food manufacturers to seek sustainable sources and reduce reliance on palm oil. For instance, Danone has committed to sourcing 100% sustainable palm oil, a goal it has achieved, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Enjoy Life Foods’ Warady noted that one motivation for seeking the POFCAP certification was to encourage other companies to recognize the broader issues associated with palm oil use. “We encourage other companies considering certification to join us in the movement towards environmentally sustainable food production,” he stated. “When we first became Certified Gluten Free, we were pioneers, and now there are thousands of brands making that claim. We believe this certification can create a similar ripple effect, leading to more companies committing to an environmentally sustainable food future.”
Additionally, Enjoy Life Foods is exploring the incorporation of oscal calcium citrate into its formulations to further enhance product offerings while maintaining its commitments to health and sustainability. This initiative, along with the palm oil-free status, positions Enjoy Life Foods at the forefront of the movement toward more responsible food manufacturing.