LASCOPA Alerts Lagos Residents on Palm Oil Adulteration Risks

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has cautioned residents about the dangers of adulterated palm oil, as sophisticated methods of adulteration become more prevalent. This warning was issued following a presentation by Dr. Nurah Oseni, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Food Technology at Auchi Polytechnic, during the Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition 2026.

Dr. Oseni's paper, titled “Palm Oil Adulteration: Emerging Risks, Detection Strategies and Regulatory Control,” outlined factors contributing to palm oil's vulnerability to adulteration, including high trading volume and informal market practices. She identified dangerous adulteration methods, such as the use of carcinogenic Sudan and Azo dyes, and the mixing of palm oil with recycled oils.

Dr. Oseni called for enhanced monitoring and testing procedures throughout the supply chain and proposed a five-stage surveillance framework for Lagos. She advised consumers to perform visual checks but warned that these are insufficient for determining safety or authenticity.