Red Palm Oil Produced as Alternative to Prevent Stunting

President Jokowi inspects the research process of red palm oil in Oil Palm Research Center (PPKS) in Kampung Baru, Medan city, Thursday (07/07). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Kris)

In a bid to prevent stunting and nutritional deficiency, Oil Palm Research Center (PPKS) in Kampung Baru, North Sumatra capital of Medan has developed red palm oil, an innovation of palm oil.

“Red palm oil can be used not only to cook but also as a supplement to help our people prevent stunting since the nutritional value of red palm oil is much higher than cooking oil circulated in the market,” Head of the PPKS Edwin Lubis said in his statement.

According to Edwin, the excellence of red palm oil is its nutritional value and pro-vitamin A and E content that are higher than that of most cooking oil. In processing red palm oil, the PPKS used a simple technology that retains the oil’s nutrition.

“The excellence of this red palm oil is the nutrition or vitamin A and vitamin E content that is higher because we prioritize nutrition in processing it,” he said, adding that red palm oil production can be developed by cooperatives and MSMEs as the investment value and logistic cost are lower than that of commercial cooking oil factories.

“We hope it is built in centers or in village areas, so it will be cheaper because the logistic cost is close to none,” he said.

Closing his statement, Edwin stated that dissemination about the benefits of red palm oil to the people needs to be carried out as the color is different from that of cooking oil in general.

Edwin also asked for everyone’s support to help disseminate the innovation product that can be a solution to fulfilling nutrition for the Indonesian people.

“We certainly hope for all stakeholders’ support to disseminate information about red palm oil,” he remarked.

For the record, during his working visit to North Sumatra province, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inspected the research process of red palm oil in the PPKS. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (DH/MMB)