SOUTHAMPTON campaigners are calling for a biscuit brand to stop using palm oil.

The local Greenpeace protestors took to Southampton Common to spread their message. They joined the global protest which is calling for an end to rainforest destruction - which protestors say is caused by the demand for palm oil.

The product is a vegetable oil found in chocolate bars, biscuits, soaps and shampoo.

But campaigners say it can be produced without destroying rainforests - which leads to environmental damage including the loss of habitat for endangered animals like orangutans.

Rhia Weston, a Greenpeace volunteer from Southampton, said: ‘‘Everyone knows and loves Oreos, but not everyone knows that one of their key ingredients – palm oil – is destroying rainforests. We spoke to lots of people on Saturday on the Common who were disappointed to learn that one of their favourite biscuits causes so much damage. They were more than willing to join us in calling on Oreo to drop dirty palm oil.

"I hope everyone in Southampton who is as shocked as we are by Oreo’s destruction will call on Mondelēz to clean up its act by signing the Greenpeace petition and joining people around the world calling for Oreo to drop dirty palm oil now.’”

Greenpeace is campaigning in Southampton, and across the world, to ensure that major brands such as Mondelēz, who make Oreos, stop buying palm oil from companies linked to rainforest destruction.

A Greenpeace spokesperson said: "Indonesia’s rainforests are the lungs of our planet and our strongest defence against climate change. They are also home to iconic wildlife including orangutans and birds of paradise. But these amazing forests are being cleared to make room for palm oil plantations.

"Mondelēz made a promise in 2010 that it would stop buying palm oil from producers that destroyed rainforests, but a recent Greenpeace investigation revealed 22 of 25 forest destroyers are still in its supply chain.

"Oreo is the world’s biggest selling cookie and Mondelēz has a responsibility to ensure that the palm oil it uses in Oreos is not causing rainforest destruction, which not only endangers orangutans but threatens the climate."

In a statement, Mondelez said it was 'committed to eradicating deforestation in the palm oil supply', adding that it was 'actively working' with suppliers to ensure their palm oil is 'fully traceable'. It said it would exclude suppliers that did not meet 'its principles', including 12 'as a result of breaches'.