Palm Oil in Packaged Chips and Snacks – A Hidden Danger Parents, Say NO to Packet Food
When you buy packaged snacks like chips and namkeen for your children, have you ever wondered what ingredients are used to make them? Have you ever carefully read the ingredients printed on the back of these packets? Do you know that palm oil is used in most of these products — an ingredient that can be extremely harmful to your health, especially your heart?
To discuss the rising cases of heart attacks among children and the harmful effects of palm oil, Parimal Kumar, founder of Kiddocracy, spoke with renowned cardiologist Dr. H. K. Chopra.
How Dangerous is Palm Oil?
Dr. Chopra explains that the human body contains at least 1 billion capillaries and 60,000 miles of blood vessels. There are 60 trillion cells and 6 trillion chemical reactions taking place in the body every second — and all of these are affected every second by the impact of palm oil.
Palm oil lacks essential nutrients such as mono-unsaturated fats, poly-unsaturated fats, Omega-3, Omega-6, and vital vitamins — all of which are necessary components of a healthy edible oil. The only major benefit of palm oil is that it helps food appear fresh for longer, which is why it is widely used in the market.
Palm Oil Banned in the USA and UK
Countries like the USA and UK have already banned palm oil. Dr. Chopra says that India must now take similar action. Palm oil causes injury to the lining of cells and arteries, leading to fatty streaks that gradually narrow the blood vessels.
If this narrowing occurs in the heart, it leads to a heart attack. If it happens in the brain — stroke. If in the legs, it causes other serious illnesses.
A Warning for Children and Families
Anyone with high blood pressure or heart-related issues should completely avoid palm-oil-based packaged foods.
If children are consuming chips or namkeen and experiencing any health issues, stop their intake immediately.
Even if no visible symptoms appear, it is essential to eliminate palm-oil-based products from the diet of children and family members to prevent long-term health problems.
Need for Awareness in India
Parimal Kumar asked Dr. Chopra about food brands now beginning to label their products as ‘No Palm Oil’.
Dr. Chopra welcomed the move, saying that it is crucial to clearly mention whether a product contains palm oil or not. This transparency helps consumers make informed decisions. As awareness grows, government policies will evolve, eventually phasing out palm oil usage altogether.
He further emphasized that every family, parent, and child must be educated about the dangers of palm oil. If awareness increases, eliminating it completely will become much easier. He suggested organizing a 15–20 minute session in every school daily to educate children about harmful foods.
Not just in schools — this message must reach the masses through digital, print, and electronic media.
In conclusion, Dr. Chopra urged the government to launch two major campaigns — Mission Nutrition India and Mission Ideal Edible Oil India. These initiatives would not only protect people from the harmful effects of palm oil but also prevent serious conditions like early-age heart attacks, paralysis, and fatty liver disease. He appealed to parents to keep their children away from packet foods, namkeen, and chips made with palm oil.
