Meridian organic nut butters (all free from palm oil)
Meridian organic peanut butters are widely found in farm shops and health stores. These are not just organic but sold in glass jars, and free from palm oil, to protect forest habitats abroad of orangutans and other endangered creatures. The bulk sizes are in plastic tubs that are easy to recycle.
In smooth or crunchy versions (the bulk versions are in easy-to-recycle plastic tubs) they contain just nuts (tested to avoid toxins) and a little sea salt. A great source of heatlhy fats and protein.
Roasted in their skins, use on toast or crumpets, or add to shakes, cakes and bakes.
Palm oil is used as an emulsifier. So just stir in the oil that settles on top of the jar. A small price to pay to save our orange cousins!
Avoid feeding not just nuts/seeds but also their butters to young children and people with swallowing difficulties. Also keep away from pets (nut butters are too fatty, keep to proper treats in biscuits). Also don’t feed leftovers to garden birds or wildfowl, as they can choke and fat can smear on feathers, affecting waterproofing/insulation.
Always rinse jars, lids and tubs before recyling to avoid enticing inquisitive wildlife at landfills or recycling plants.
Why avoid palm oil in nut butters?
Forests are destroyed and orangutans sometimes killed, to make way for plantations that grow a cheap saturated that is flown halfaway aoudn the world to put in grocery products like peanut butter, vegan butters, biscuits and bar soaps.
An area bigger than the size of the UK has already been destroyed for the palm oil industry. And Greenpeace tells us that the oft-quoted ‘Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil’ is just a self-policed term from vested industry interests, that is ‘as useful as a chocolate teapot’. Just avoid palm oil altogether, and make your own food.
Meridian not only fundraises for International Animal Rescue, but has even adopted five orangutans to sponsor their care. And helped to plan 50,000 to reforest orangutan homes in Borneo.
Other palm-oil free products by Meridian
- You’ve likely heard that some almond butters are not sustainable (due to methods of farming that harm bees). So their organic almond butter (also in bulk size) is a much better choice. Again, it only contains a little sea salt.
- There is an organic buttery cashew butter. are also nut and seed butters.
- The organic light tahini is made from creamed sesame seeds, nice on toast or in curries and packed with calcium.
- Organic molasses (rich in minerals) is often used in gingerbead.
Yeast extract (not organic but artisan)
The yeast extract is not organic, but it’s a homegrown artisan alternative to Marmite, and sold in glass jar. Nice on toast or to add flavour to vegan gravy, casseroles or veggie burgers at a BBQ.
