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    ​Palm Oil Production Under Fire​ 
    Human Rights Abuses
    & other Controversies

    ​

    The production of palm oil is not without its challenges and controversies. 

     

    Forced Labor & Child Labor


    Indigenous Peoples' Rights


    The Environment

     

    Local Economies

     

    Public Health

    Palm oil and its derivatives are in numerous popular brand-name foods and household products around the world. As a commodity, demand is rising, and with it production. 

     

    Learn about the production of palm oil generally, and in Indonesia specifically.

     

    What is Palm Oil &
    Where Does It Come From?

     

    Palm Oil Production
    in Indonesia

     

    Products With Palm Oil 

     

    Palm Oil Supply Chain

     

    Picture Gallery of 
    Products with Palm Oil

     

    ​Outline of Production​
    Palm Fruit to Product

    The palm oil industry, together with government and non-governmental organizations, is addressing some of the ongoing conflicts surrounding current methods of palm oil production.

     

    The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), based in Malaysia, is the primary vehicle through which better practices are being recommended and supported.

     

    Learn more:

    Palm Oil Industry Response

     

    RSPO-Member Timetables for Switching to Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO)

     

    • Growers

    • Processors & Traders

    • Consumer Goods Manufacturers

    • Retailers

    • Banks & Investors

    ​Palm Oil Production
    Palm Oil Industry's Response

    In a nine-month investigation, the Schuster Institute's team of reporters followed the intra-country migration of workers in the palm oil industry in Indonesia. "Indonesia's Palm Oil Industry Rife With Human-Rights Abuses," the resulting story published at businessweek.com and in the July 22, 2013 issue of Bloomberg Businessweek, highlights the harrowing and unexpected journey one man took from freedom to slavery and back, and how few consumers, including those in the burgeoning markets of China and India, are aware of workers' plight.

     

    Photo Slideshow

    About this Investigation

    Industry, Advocacy, Media & Other Response since this Investigation

    ​Adam's Story

    From Freedom to Slavery and Back​​​​

    ABOUT THIS WEBSITE

     

    This website is dedicated to the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism's
    investigative reporting on human trafficking and modern-day slavery. 

     

    In the Business of Slavery Project, we investigate modern-day forms of slavery in two industries:
    the
    palm oil industry and the fishing industry.

     

    Other reporting examines the human trafficking network stretching from Boston to Bangkok.

     

     

    Learn more about our investigative reporting at brandeis.edu/investigate

     

    • Political & Social Justice Project

    • Justice Brandeis Law Project

    • Gender & Justice Project

    • Ethics & Justice Investigative Journalism Fellowship

    • Student involvement

     

     

    Schuster Institute - Bloomberg Businessweek collaboration

    Is There Slavery In Your Supermarket?

     

    Our investigation reveals that some palm oil--the most widely used vegetable oil in the world--is produced with slave labor. Palm oil is in all the products above, and many more.

     
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    keebler-fudge-stripes-dark-chocolate-cookies.jpg
    keebler-fudge-stripes-dark-chocolate-cookies.jpg
    kellogs-protein-granola-bar.jpg
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    healthy-accents-body-wash.jpg
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    Hannaford-powdered-donuts.jpg
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    cetaphil-skin-cleanser.jpg
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    betty-crocker-chocolate-frosting.jpg
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    skippy-peanut-butter.jpg
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    oreo-cookies.jpg
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    Snyders-nibblers.jpg
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    pure-silk-shave-cream.jpg
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    Nestle-milk-chocolate.jpg
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    Noxzema-Deep-cleansing-cream.jpg
    Noxzema-Deep-cleansing-cream.jpg
    Old-El-Paso-taco-shells.jpg
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    Milano-double-chocolate-cookies.jpg
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    Little-Debbie-Chocolate-Cupcakes.jpg
    Little-Debbie-Chocolate-Cupcakes.jpg
    Lofthouse-Frosted-Sugar-Cookies.jpg
    Lofthouse-Frosted-Sugar-Cookies.jpg
    Keebler-club-cheddar-sandwich-crackers.jpg
    Keebler-club-cheddar-sandwich-crackers.jpg
    Kudos-MandM-Chocolate-granola-bars.jpg
    Kudos-MandM-Chocolate-granola-bars.jpg
    keebler-fudge-stripes-dark-chocolate-cookies.jpg
    keebler-fudge-stripes-dark-chocolate-cookies.jpg
    kellogs-protein-granola-bar.jpg
    kellogs-protein-granola-bar.jpg
    jif-creamy-peanut-butter.jpg
    jif-creamy-peanut-butter.jpg
    johnsons-baby-naturals-head-to-toe-wash.jpg
    johnsons-baby-naturals-head-to-toe-wash.jpg
    healthy-accents-body-wash.jpg
    healthy-accents-body-wash.jpg
    hannaford-wheat-crackets.jpg
    hannaford-wheat-crackets.jpg
    Hannaford-powdered-donuts.jpg
    Hannaford-powdered-donuts.jpg
    3-muskateers-bar.jpg
    3-muskateers-bar.jpg
    colgate-toothpaste.jpg
    colgate-toothpaste.jpg
    v05-shampoo.jpg
    v05-shampoo.jpg
    cheez-its.jpg
    cheez-its.jpg
    chips-ahoy-chewy.jpg
    chips-ahoy-chewy.jpg
    betty-crocker-bisquick-mix.jpg
    betty-crocker-bisquick-mix.jpg
    chef-boyardee-mac-and-cheese.jpg
    chef-boyardee-mac-and-cheese.jpg
    cetaphil-skin-cleanser.jpg
    cetaphil-skin-cleanser.jpg
    betty-crocker-chocolate-frosting.jpg
    betty-crocker-chocolate-frosting.jpg
    skippy-peanut-butter.jpg
    skippy-peanut-butter.jpg
    oreo-cookies.jpg
    oreo-cookies.jpg
    Snyders-nibblers.jpg
    Snyders-nibblers.jpg
    pure-silk-shave-cream.jpg
    pure-silk-shave-cream.jpg
    seventh-generation-dish-soap.jpg
    seventh-generation-dish-soap.jpg
    Nissin-Chow-Mein-Teriyaki.jpg
    Nissin-Chow-Mein-Teriyaki.jpg
    Nestle-peanut-butter-chocolate-chimps.jpg
    Nestle-peanut-butter-chocolate-chimps.jpg
    Nestle-milk-chocolate.jpg
    Nestle-milk-chocolate.jpg
    Noxzema-Deep-cleansing-cream.jpg
    Noxzema-Deep-cleansing-cream.jpg
    Old-El-Paso-taco-shells.jpg
    Old-El-Paso-taco-shells.jpg
    Milano-double-chocolate-cookies.jpg
    Milano-double-chocolate-cookies.jpg
    Little-Debbie-Chocolate-Cupcakes.jpg
    Little-Debbie-Chocolate-Cupcakes.jpg
    Lofthouse-Frosted-Sugar-Cookies.jpg
    Lofthouse-Frosted-Sugar-Cookies.jpg

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