Palm oil, scientifically known as Elaeis guineensis Jacq is a common edible oil in many Nigerian households.

The oil derived from the mesocarp of the oil palm fruit is a key ingredient in numerous Nigerian cuisines, ranging from stews to soups to frying.

It is also a major ingredient for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries to produce drugs and skincare products.

Nigeria is the fifth largest producer of palm oil in the world with 1.4 million metric tons, reflecting the huge production gap.

To increase the quantity and make surplus gains, experts warn that traders now add water and artificial colouring agents such as red oxide — used for painting gates, to litres of palm oil, which can increase cancer risk as well as cause liver problems.

Alphonsus Inyang, president of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria has warned against this criminal practice and encouraged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to work together with the association towards curbing this act.

“We need the FCCPC to work with us because we need the protection that they offer. We also need to work with the police so that we can go around with them to identify where these things happen,” he said.

“These things don’t happen in the mills. They happen in places where they sort and grade palm oil,” he added.

BusinessDay looks at top five ways Nigerians can identify fake palm oil which has become rampant across markets in the country and poses several health risks.

Deep reddish colour

According to experts, the fake palm oil has a deeper red colour than the original palm oil.

This is because certain colouring additives like red oxide, Azo dyes particularly Sudan III and IV, are used to enhance their colour.

Nigerians can therefore look out for palm oil with deep shades of red colour when next they go to shop in markets.

“Red oxide is mixed with original palm oils so they become more red. This is one of the simplest ways to identify the fake oil. Their colour is a deeper red than original palm oil,” Alphonsus told BusinessDay in a telephone interview.

Unpleasant taste

It is customary for adulterated palm oil to leave a bad after-mouth taste. The presence of colouring additives gives off an unpleasant taste even after cooking.

Experts say they leave a foul taste in the mouth even when and after eating, the taste still lingers.

For several Nigerians, the original taste of palm oil is like that of ‘Banga’.

“When you are eating it, the taste of the palm oil is still there. In a normal house, everybody knows the right taste of palm oil,” the palm oil president said.

Foul odour

Like the taste, fake palm oil gives off a foul odour when cooking. Experts refer to this odour as ‘chalky’.

When used to cook, they produce a pungent smell that takes a while to disperse.

Smokes too quickly

The fake palm oil smokes very quickly when used to cook or fry. They begin to produce much smoke within seconds of being on the gas or stove, experts say.

“It smokes too quickly. If you put a little in the pot, like say you want to fry or you want to add onions, once you put it in the pot, the whole kitchen becomes smokey. This is fake palm oil,” said Alphonsus.

Bleaches very fast

Adulterated palm oil turns into what might appear like vegetable oil within seconds of being on low heat. The chemical additives make it bleach faster than it is supposed to.

Source: https://businessday.ng/agriculture/article/here-are-five-ways-to-identify-fake-palm-oil/

Front page worthy mods

Fake palm oil always sleeps and comes out very slowly

Insightful post. Thanks for sharing.

Good....

The nonsense I buy these days is really killing me.....

We don't really care about ourselves

Hardship for this country no go make you remember all ds tips self..na make oil just dey inside the food na hm matter cause the cost of palm oil right now is scarring..

Na wa o...

What shall we say again to these greedy people

Truth is that Most of the consumers of red oil don't even know how the original looks like. We in Niger Delta region know exactly how banga tastes like 👍 but what about the rest 90% consumers?
God save us 🙏

Don't buy Nigeria Palm oil. Import from China instead.

Are there ways to identify non-virgins aka boreholes who did paternity fraud? We already know that of oil, pls tell us that of paternity fraud.
What do I even know sef aside enlightening my fellow men nationwide with the good news

All the aforementioned properties are typical of a fake palm oil. Most of the palm oil we have in the market is adulterated the level of adulteration is what differs. No wonder there's high rise of organ failure.

Nice one

Apart from the deep reddish colour, we can only discover the rest after we've purchased the fake stuff.

Someone said this business is lucrative 🤔
Can someone help with any preservation methods? If one can buy at surplus and resell at scarcity.

okay

Carry this your English go England. We the streets people no understand anything from it.

Fake palm oil dey again?

Those billionaires should stop this Abeg. Killing people since time immemorial

Judolisco:
Fake palm oil dey again?

💯

We afe already used for fake so we can't tell the difference

Hmmm

No one should attack Igb0s on this thread.

We know how they operate but fake palm oil dey every region

When allowed to settle after some hours fake palm oil retains same reddish colour all through from top to bottom.
Which one amongst these 2 is the original palm oil?

Check the ones sold in that white 5ltre keg you go see say upside is deep red while the bottom is normal red oil. It's as fake as can be.


So the report is so valid 👍

The fake oil tastes like agbado mixed with ewedu.. the fake mandate knows this

H

SatoshiX:
Someone said this business is lucrative 🤔
Can someone help with any preservation methods? If one can buy at surplus and resell at scarcity.

"Lucrative" ko....
"Destructive" ni...

You greedy People don't ever care what your "Lucrative" businesses do to people!!

So you want to join these band of Economic vampires who go about mopping up ALL the available foodstuff from the subsistent farmers(When it's cheap in the Market) then hide the foodstuff to make them scarce and costly before bringing them out for resell.

May you not succeed with such a business...

Anyway,the relevant Authorities are on the matter

Greenlandz:
Fake palm oil always sleeps and comes out very slowly

Wrong.

Dpharisee:
When allowed to settle after some hours fake palm oil retains same reddish colour all through from top to bottom.
Which one amongst these 2 is the original palm oil?

Both s Original