Virgin Palm Oil as Functional Food: Nutritionists' Role Emphasised

The Indonesian Palm Oil Community (MAKSI), in collaboration with the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) and the Muhammadiyah PKU Training Centre, held a national workshop in Jakarta to promote Virgin Palm Oil (VPO) as a functional food. The event, held at the KH Ahmad Dahlan Auditorium at Cempaka Putih Islamic Hospital, focused on the role of nutritionists and healthcare workers in strengthening downstream industries and supporting national health resilience through science-based literacy on palm oil commodities.

MAKSI Chairman Darmono Taniwiryono stressed the importance of multi-party collaboration in disseminating scientific information about Indonesian palm oil. He noted that healthcare workers are at the forefront of educating the public on the benefits of VPO, also known as red palm oil. ‘Healthcare workers have a strategic role in explaining to the public the benefits of Virgin Palm Oil, which is rich in nutrients, especially tocotrienols, tocopherols, and beta-carotene,’ he stated.

Darmono explained that VPO possesses high nutritional value and potential health benefits. A key advantage of this pure palm oil is its tocotrienol content, a form of vitamin E with higher antioxidant activity compared to the tocopherols commonly found in other vegetable oils. He added that the natural red colour of VPO indicates high levels of antioxidants and beneficial beta-carotene. ‘Virgin Palm Oil has its own advantages because its tocotrienol content is more dominant compared to other vegetable oils,’ he clarified.

Professor Ahmad Sulaeman from PERGIZI Pangan explained that the nutritional content of oil palm fruit has the potential to support public nutrition if utilised appropriately based on scientific evidence. Meanwhile, Linda Sitanandra from the BPDP’s SME Division expressed the agency’s commitment to supporting public literacy through educational programmes and human resource development as part of strengthening the national plantation industry sustainably. Through collaboration between academics, regulators, professional organisations, and industry players, the initiative aims to provide the public with a comprehensive understanding of plantation derivative products, particularly palm oil, to support positive campaigns, product innovation, public health improvement, and national economic strengthening.