ST ALBANS food giant Premier Foods has promised to use sustainable palm oil only by the end of next year after the Review highlighted the dangers of rainforest destruction.

Spokesman Tom Eckersley told the Review: “Palm oil is an important and versatile raw material that contributes to the economic development of producing countries and the daily needs of consumers in the UK. However Premier Foods is concerned over the environmental and social impacts of buying palm oil from south-east Asia and in response the company and its palm oil suppliers are all members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a not-for-profit organisation that aims to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil. Premier Foods' policy is to source palm oil only from suppliers who are themselves members of RSPO and follow the development and implementation of RSPO guidelines.

"In 2008 Premier Foods set itself a target to ensure all palm oil used in its branded products is certified and compliant with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) by 2011. Having recently reviewed and updated this target, Premier Foods is now committed to bringing forward its target to source 100 per cent certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) by the end of 2010.”