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Nigeria: Institute Raises Alarm Over Adulteration of Palm Oil
Nigeria: Institute Raises Alarm Over Adulteration of Palm Oil
28/08/2015 (AllAfrica.com) - Director of research at Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) Dr Celestine Ikwuenobi is alarmed that palm oil widely used for food has been adulterated with chemicals used in the dyeing of clothes.
He said this has become a major health risk among consumers of the products.
He disclosed this Wednesday during a training session for oil palm farmers in Calabar by a non-governmental organisation, Solidaridad.
He said that unless efforts are taken to address the situation a major health disaster will erupt in the country.
He also disclosed that the adulteration is not only in palm oil but also oil palm seedlings sold to farmers, stressing that the chemical is unsafe for human consumption.
"Palm oil supplied to the Nigerian markets and the Diaspora is usually adulterated with dye chemicals which make such oil unsafe for human consumption and unless something drastic is done, a health disaster might result in the country."
He said this has become a major health risk among consumers of the products.
He disclosed this Wednesday during a training session for oil palm farmers in Calabar by a non-governmental organisation, Solidaridad.
He said that unless efforts are taken to address the situation a major health disaster will erupt in the country.
He also disclosed that the adulteration is not only in palm oil but also oil palm seedlings sold to farmers, stressing that the chemical is unsafe for human consumption.
"Palm oil supplied to the Nigerian markets and the Diaspora is usually adulterated with dye chemicals which make such oil unsafe for human consumption and unless something drastic is done, a health disaster might result in the country."