Yes, palm oil is permitted in products with the Certified Vegan logo. Our certification criteria are based on a product containing no animal ingredients and not being tested on animals. Since palm oil meets these requirements, it qualifies.

We agree that the environmental damage and animal suffering caused by palm oil harvesting is devastating. However, if we were to include environmental impact and habitat destruction in our certification standards, very few products would be eligible. Large-scale farming of any crop—from potatoes to soy—causes environmental damage and leads to the deaths of countless animals. We all do our best to make responsible choices, but it’s technically impossible for any consumer to be completely free of a negative impact.

While we do not promote palm oil or any specific company, our purpose is to help consumers find products that are animal-free. We believe that choosing vegan options is an important step toward a more compassionate world. The good news is that many products on the market are both vegan and palm oil-free, so consumers have plenty of options.