Leonie

I can confirm that palm oil is not used in any First Quality Foods products.

Regards, Kevin

—–Original Message—–
From: leonie@ethicalconsumer.org
Sent: 23 July 2010 11:17
To: sales@firstqualityfoods.co.uk
Subject: Ma Baker bars and palm oil

Dear Patrick and Kevin,

Thank you Patrick for forwarding us the information that Ma Baker bars do not contain palm oil. Whilst conducting the research for this Buyers’ Guide Ethical Consumer did send a questionnaire to Elondale/First Quality Foods but did not receive a response.

I have adjusted our database accordingly, and also will add Ma Baker bars to the list of palm oil free products that Ethical Consumer is compiling, and will be publishing shortly.

Kevin can you confirm that palm oil is not used in any other First Quality Foods products?

Best wishes,
Leonie

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>
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>
> —————————————————-
>
> Subject: RE: Ma Baker Bars
> From: “Kevin Gaches”
> Date: Thu, June 17, 2010 8:44 am
> To: “‘Veggies Catering Campaign'”
>
> We can confirm that Ma Baker bars do NOT contain palm oil. We use a margarine which has no flavours, emulsifiers or colours.
>
> As a company we are well aware of the issues with palm oil.
>
> I can confirm that all the Ma Baker bars which do not have any toppings are suitable for vegans. Unfortunately the yogurt/chocolate toppings on the smoothie/fusions bars are not suitable for vegans.
>
> Kind Regards
>
> Kevin Gaches
> First Quality Foods
>
> —–Original Message—–
> From: Veggies Catering Campaign [mailto:info@veggies.org.uk]
> Sent: 17 June 2010 00:14
> To: sales@firstqualityfoods.co.uk
> First Quality Foods, Unit 35, The Beeches. Lavenham Road. Yate, Bristol, BS37 5QX
>
> Dear Sirs
>
> Here at Veggies we strive to be an ethical, wholefood supplier and stock only vegan food, with a preference for fair trade and/or organic where appropriate. We also favour the purchasing of products from smaller, independent companies such as yours.
>
> We have included Ma Baker bars in our range for many years, supplied by Lembas Wholefoods, in Sheffield.
>
> However I note from the current edition of the Ethical Consumer magazine that Ma Baker bars may contain palm oil, presumably in the unspecified ‘vegetable margerine’.
>
> I understand from numerous sources that some production of Palm Oil is implicated in environmental destruction.
>
> The following quote is from the Friends of the Earth website: ‘Demand for palm oil, a vegetable oil present in 1 in 10 supermarket products, is the most significant cause of rainforest loss in Malaysia and Indonesia.’
>
> Palm oil plantations destroy biodiversity and are associated with human rights violations and worker exploitation’. See also
>
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/biodiversity/case_studies/palmoil_index.html
>
> Meanwhile the Sumatran Orangutan Society state that ‘the expansion of oil palm plantations into high conservation value forests is now the most critical threat to wild orangutans in Sumatra and Borneo.’
>
> Please can you confirm that any Palm Oil thay you use is certified as being from sustainable sources, and not from plantations involving the destruction of rainforest and the associated human rights violations
and worker exploitation.
>
> Meanwhile can you confirm whether which of your products are suitable for vegans?
>
> Many of our customers share our concern to help animals, people and the planet. We therefore have rigorous guidelines to help us avoid paying for goods and services which are known to cause harm, suffering and destruction.
>
> I thank you in advance for your reply.
>
> — http://www.veggies.org.uk —