•It is estimated that 100 years ago, there were approximately 500,000 orangutans in the world. Now, only 10% remain;approximately 42,000 in Borneo and 6,000 in Sumatra.
•All populations of orangutans are threatened with extinction, because their rainforest habitats are being cut down to make paper and to create room for giant palm oil farms.
•Palm oil is used in roughly half of manufactured goods sold at the supermarket: from cereal to lipstick to soap to candy bars.
•The Malaysian and Indonesian Palm Oil industries convinced the FDA to compel manufacturers using vegetable oil in their products to change their labeling. Manufacturers who create products containing vegetable oil must indicate, as a separate line item, harmful Trans-fats.
•Ironically, the FDA does not give environmentally conservative Americans the same consideration. The FDA should compel manufacturers who use palm oil in their products to indicate that use as a separate line item so that we may make an informed choice
•Since Cargill buys more palm oil than any other company in the U.S., it can make a big difference by refusing to buy and sell palm oil that hurts rainforests, family farmers and our climate. Write a letter to Cargill telling it that you want a future that includes orangutans, rainforests and a cool climate. It’s easy; Cargill just needs to agree to only buy and sell good palm oil that was grown responsibly.
•Please send all letters to:
Cargill Letter Drive
Rainforest Action Network
221 Pine Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94104