By Rita Okonkwo
Residents across Anambra State have raised concerns over the alleged adulteration of palm oil being sold in some markets, amid claims that unscrupulous traders are mixing the product with dyes and other substances to increase its volume and improve its appearance. The concerns, which have gained attention on social media, followed complaints from consumers who reported unusually bright-red palm oil, excessive thickness, offensive odour and sediments found in containers.
Some consumers suspect that the alleged adulteration may be taking place in warehouses or along the supply chain, rather than at the point of production by farmers, as middlemen reportedly seek to increase their profit margins. With the complaints mounting, residents have called on the Anambra State Government and relevant regulatory agencies to urgently intensify surveillance and protect consumers from potentially harmful food products.
Speaking on the development, the President of the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN) and Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Joe Onyiuke, described the situation as a “national disaster” and “national emergency.”
Onyiuke said Nigeria’s share of global palm oil production had declined from about 40 per cent to approximately two per cent, while demand had continued to outstrip domestic production.
According to him, the supply deficit has created opportunities for criminal elements to adulterate genuine palm oil with dyes, garri and other unidentified substances in an attempt to make the product appear more attractive and increase its volume. He also criticised what he described as inadequate coordination among regulatory agencies in monitoring the market and tracking down those involved in the alleged practice. “There is no market intelligence. Even if they have, they don’t care. They don’t go after them,” he said.
Health experts have also expressed concern over the potential dangers associated with consuming food products contaminated with harmful substances.
Dr. Jerome Mafeni, Technical Advisor at the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), said exposure to toxic substances through adulterated food could contribute to serious health problems, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Similarly, the National President of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), Alphonso Inyang, warned that food adulteration remained a serious public health concern. He said Nigerians were increasingly exposed to potentially harmful substances through adulterated food products, including tomatoes, onions and palm oil.
Against this backdrop, residents have called on the Anambra State Government, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and market authorities to commence immediate surveillance in major markets across the state, including Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi. They also urged the relevant authorities to investigate complaints, remove unsafe products from circulation and prosecute anyone found culpable in accordance with the law.
Consumers have equally been advised to exercise caution when purchasing palm oil by checking for unusual colour, offensive odour, excessive thickness or sediments, and to patronise trusted and reputable vendors. Members of the public who suspect that a palm oil product may have been adulterated are encouraged to report it to the appropriate regulatory authorities for investigation.
Rita Okonkwo is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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