‘Killer’ palm oil hits the market

Some palm oil dealers in the country have taken to diluting original palm oil with substances to maximise profit, at the expense of unsuspecting buyers, this act, have led to the availability of ‘killer’ palm oil in various markets.
To this end, stakeholders in the Palm Oil industry are expressing serious concern over presence of the adulterated palm oil or ‘killer palm oil’ in markets across the country.
The Guardian reported that, when the colourant is mixed with water and added to original palm oil, it increases its redness, which creates the impression that it is better in quality than other oil in the market. It was further learnt that the demand for the ‘killer oil’ is increasing unknowingly due to its rich colour and attractiveness, as buyers prefer it to the original oil.
The development has been attributed to rising cost of the original product, as several households cannot afford to pay the high cost. A bottle of 75cl is now between N400 and N500, as against N250 and N300 in 2017. Also, a 4-litre gallon currently sells for between N2, 500 and N3, 000 against its previous price of N2, 000. The adulterated oil is reportedly cheaper.
According to reports, the shady trade, which was prevalent in Lagos, Yobe, and Plateau, has spread to other states across the country, raising serious concern for public health.