The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers, advising them to be extremely cautious when buying palm oil because of ongoing concerns about adulteration. This caution is part of the FDA’s ongoing efforts to address the presence of harmful substances, particularly the well-known ‘Sudan Four’ dye, which has been found in some palm oil products being sold.
The presence of this industrial dye, which is banned for use in food products due to its carcinogenic properties, poses a serious health risk to consumers. Roderick Daddey-Adjei, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, expressed deep concern over the persistence of this issue, despite the Authority’s rigorous enforcement actions.
He acknowledged the progress made in reducing the prevalence of adulterated palm oil but emphasised that even a small percentage of contamination remains unacceptable. “But we are still not happy about that small percentage that is there, which means that people who perpetrated the activity are still lurking in the dark. And we also want to also let those who think that they can come back and keep on doing this, that their days are numbered. Because already with this one that we even did, we did some arrests, we have handed them over to the police.”
Source: Citi Newsroom
