Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil extracted from the fruit of oil palm trees, scientifically known as Elaeis guineensis. There are two main types of oil derived from the palm fruit: crude palm oil, which is obtained by squeezing the fleshy fruit, and palm kernel oil, which comes from crushing the seed or kernel inside the fruit

. The oil palm tree is native to Africa but is now predominantly cultivated in tropical regions, especially Indonesia and Malaysia, which together produce over 85% of the world's palm oil supply. The trees thrive in equatorial climates with high humidity and consistent rainfall

. Palm oil is widely used due to its versatility and functional properties. It is semi-solid at room temperature, resistant to oxidation, stable at high temperatures, and odorless and colorless when refined. These qualities make it a common ingredient in about 50% of packaged products, including foods like pizza, doughnuts, chocolate, and ice cream, as well as non-food items such as deodorants, shampoos, toothpaste, and cosmetics. It is also used in animal feed and biofuels in some regions

. Nutritionally, palm oil contains a high concentration of saturated fats, particularly palmitic acid, along with monounsaturated oleic acid. Unrefined red palm oil is rich in carotenoids (vitamin A precursors) and vitamin E compounds. However, excessive consumption of palmitic acid has been linked to increased cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk

. The production of palm oil has significant environmental and social impacts. It is a major driver of deforestation in tropical regions, leading to biodiversity loss and social challenges related to human rights violations among growers. Despite these issues, palm oil is more land- and water- efficient compared to other vegetable oils, which complicates the sustainability considerations

. In summary, palm oil is a highly productive and versatile vegetable oil derived from oil palm fruit, extensively used in food and non-food products worldwide, but its cultivation poses important environmental and ethical concerns