Lagos Warns Residents Over Adulterated Palm Oil in Markets

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has warned residents about the increasing sophistication of palm oil adulteration in markets across the state, urging consumers to exercise caution when purchasing the widely consumed product.

The agency also announced plans to intensify market surveillance as part of efforts to protect consumers from unsafe and substandard food products.

The warning followed a technical presentation at the 2026 Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition by a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Food Technology, Auchi Polytechnic, Dr Nurah Oseni.

Oseni presented a paper titled, “Palm Oil Adulteration: Emerging Risks, Detection Strategies and Regulatory Control,” in which she identified several factors that make palm oil vulnerable to adulteration.

According to her, the high volume of palm oil traded, consumers’ perception that deep-red colour indicates good quality, price differences and informal market practices have created opportunities for adulteration.

She warned that some adulterators now use potentially harmful substances, including Sudan and Azo dyes, to change the colour of palm oil and make it appear more attractive to consumers.

Oseni also raised concerns over the mixing of palm oil with recovered or recycled oils, including spent cooking oil.

She said some adulterators were increasingly using combinations of different adulterants designed to evade basic quality checks.

She further highlighted the risk of digital and traceability fraud, including falsified product labels and batch records, stressing the need for stronger monitoring and improved detection methods throughout the supply chain.

The lecturer advised consumers to carry out simple visual checks as an initial precaution when buying palm oil.

She explained that genuine palm oil may naturally separate into layers, with the lower portion often appearing orange to reddish-yellow rather than uniformly deep red.

However, she cautioned that visual inspection alone could not conclusively establish whether palm oil had been adulterated.

Oseni recommended a multi-level detection system involving risk-based screening, rapid physicochemical and spectroscopic tests, followed by confirmatory laboratory analysis where necessary.

She also stressed the importance of proper sampling procedures and maintaining a clear chain of custody during investigations.

To strengthen surveillance in Lagos, Oseni proposed a five-step framework: “Risk Map, Sample, Screen, Confirm and Act.”

She said the framework should be supported by an adulteration intelligence database and coordinated efforts involving processors, traders, laboratories, regulators, researchers and consumers.

Meanwhile, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Afolabi Solebo, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting residents from unsafe and substandard products.

Solebo urged Lagos residents to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of adulterated palm oil and unscrupulous traders through the agency’s official channels.

He added that LASCOPA would intensify market surveillance across the state to identify and address cases of food adulteration.

The agency advised consumers to remain cautious when purchasing palm oil and to report suspicious products or trading practices to the appropriate authorities.

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