Lagos alerts residents over adulterated palm oil

— Intensifies market surveillance, urges consumers to report suspects

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS — The Lagos State Government has alerted residents to the growing presence of sophisticated adulterated palm oil in markets across the state, warning consumers to be vigilant.

The warning was issued through the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, LASCOPA, following a technical presentation at the Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition 2026.

The presentation was delivered by Dr Nurah Oseni, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Food Technology, Auchi Polytechnic.

In her paper, titled “Palm Oil Adulteration: Emerging Risks, Detection Strategies and Regulatory Control,” Oseni said palm oil was vulnerable to adulteration because of its high trading volume, consumers’ preference for deep-red colour as an indication of quality, price differences and informal market practices.

She identified the use of potentially carcinogenic Sudan and Azo dyes to enhance the colour of palm oil as one of the emerging risks.

Other concerns, she said, included the blending of palm oil with recovered or recycled oils, including spent cooking oil, as well as the use of multiple adulterants designed to evade basic quality checks.

Oseni also raised concerns over digital and traceability fraud, including falsified labels and batch records, calling for stronger surveillance and improved detection mechanisms across the supply chain.

She advised consumers to use visual checks as an initial precaution, noting that authentic palm oil may separate into layers, with the lower layer appearing orange to red-yellowish rather than uniformly deep red.

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

The expert recommended a tiered detection system involving risk-based screening, rapid physicochemical and spectroscopic tests, as well as confirmatory laboratory analysis based on proper sampling and chain-of-custody procedures.

Oseni also proposed a five-step surveillance framework for Lagos: “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.

Reacting, the General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting Lagos residents from unsafe and substandard products.

Solebo urged residents to be vigilant and report suspected cases of adulterated palm oil and unscrupulous traders through LASCOPA’s official channels.

He said the agency had intensified surveillance operations in markets across the state and would take appropriate action against offenders.

Solebo warned that suspects found dealing in adulterated products would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with relevant laws.