Palm oil now safe for consumption – FDA to Ghanaians

• Posted on December 23, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has assured the general public that 98 percent of palm oil sold on the market is now safe for consumption.

The announcement follows months of warning against the consumption of palm oil after news broke that large quantities of palm oil on the market had been adulterated with Sudan IV.

Sudan IV is an industrial dye used in the colouration of plastics and other synthetic products.

The contaminated products, were being sold at the Mallam Atta, Dome, Dansoman, Agbogbloshie and Kaneshie markets, all in Accra.

Large quantities of the oil were also seized at the Madina, Makola No 2, Tema Community One and Ashaiman markets.

Traders who sold the palm oil adulterated the product to enhance its colour and make it more appealing to customers.

However, after three months of rigorous sensitization and laboratory tests, results show that 98% of palm oil tested negative for the substance.

Deputy Chief Executive of the FDA, John Odame-Darkwah told Joy News’ Matilda Wemegah that all is well.

“The FDA after these interventions took samples from markets in Accra-Tema Metropolis, the same quantity as we tested at the beginning of the project, and I must say that we have moved from 98 percent of non-compliance to less than 10 percent of non-compliance.

“This means that even if there is any adulteration at all it may be unintentional adulteration because of containers being used at the market place. Consumers are encouraged that the palm oil on our market is safe and we should continue to patronise so that we get the nutrition that we get from palm oil.”

He advised consumes to “buy your palm oil with confidence; eat it with confidence because the FDA assures of its safety.”