Lagos warns residents over fake palm oil in markets

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has issued a warning to residents about the increasing sophistication of palm oil adulteration. The agency emphasized the need for vigilance while purchasing this commonly consumed product. Speaking at the Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition 2026, Dr Nurah Oseni, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Food Technology at Auchi Polytechnic, highlighted the vulnerabilities of palm oil to adulteration.

She pointed out factors such as high trading volume, the association of deep-red color with quality, price differences, informal market practices, and the challenges in detecting sophisticated adulterants. Oseni warned about several emerging risks, including the use of carcinogenic Sudan and Azo dyes to alter the color of palm oil, blending palm oil with recovered or recycled oils like spent cooking oil, and the use of multi-adulterant mixtures to evade basic quality checks.

She also cautioned about digital and traceability fraud involving falsified product labels and batch records. Oseni recommended stronger surveillance and improved detection mechanisms across the supply chain. She advised consumers to use simple visual checks, noting that palm oil may separate into layers, with the lower layer often appearing orange to red-yellowish instead of uniformly deep red.

However, she cautioned that visual checks alone are insufficient for confirmation. Oseni proposed a tiered detection system involving risk-based screening, rapid physicochemical and spectroscopic tests, and confirmatory laboratory analysis. She also suggested a five-step surveillance framework for Lagos, supported by an adulteration intelligence database and coordinated responsibilities among various stakeholders.

The General Manager and CEO of the Lagos State Agency for Consumer Protection (LASCOPA), Afolabi Solebo, reiterated the agency's commitment to protecting consumers and urged residents to report suspected adulterated palm oil and unscrupulous traders through the agency's official channels.