To help Nigerians avoid buying adulterated palm oil, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Advocacy for Food Safety and Nutrition Initiative (CAFSANI), Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, has shared practical tips on how to distinguish genuine palm oil from unsafe products.
Speaking on food safety and consumer protection, Ogunmoyela warned that some palm oil sold in markets is deliberately contaminated with harmful substances to enhance colour, increase volume, or prolong shelf life, posing serious health risks to consumers.
According to him, good palm oil has a natural bright red colour, a pleasant smell, and a smooth texture. Adulterated palm oil, however, may appear excessively bright or unusually dark, with an offensive or chemical-like odour. In some cases, the oil may feel gritty or leave stains when rubbed between the fingers, indicating the presence of foreign substances.
He also advised consumers to test palm oil by heating a small quantity. Pure palm oil melts evenly and remains clear when heated, while adulterated oil may separate, produce excessive smoke, or give off an unpleasant smell.
Another simple method, Ogunmoyela noted, is the water test. When a small amount of palm oil is poured into clean water, genuine palm oil will float uniformly, whereas adulterated oil may sink, spread unevenly, or leave residues in the water.
The food safety expert urged Nigerians to buy palm oil from trusted and reputable sources, avoid unusually cheap products, and report suspected adulteration to relevant authorities. He stressed that increased awareness and vigilance are essential to protecting public health and reducing the circulation of unsafe food products in the country.
Ogunmoyela further called on regulatory agencies to intensify market surveillance and enforcement to curb the growing menace of food adulteration, noting that consumer education remains a key weapon in the fight against unsafe food practices.
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