The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has raised concerns over increasingly sophisticated palm oil adulteration across the state.
The agency urged Lagos residents to remain vigilant when buying the popular cooking oil. It also announced intensified market surveillance to protect consumers.
The warning followed a technical presentation at the 2026 Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition. Dr Nurah Oseni, a Senior Lecturer at Auchi Polytechnic, delivered the presentation. 
Why Palm Oil Remains Vulnerable
Dr Oseni presented a paper titled “Palm Oil Adulteration: Emerging Risks, Detection Strategies and Regulatory Control”. She explained that palm oil remains vulnerable because of its high trading volume and informal market practices.
She also noted that many consumers associate a deep-red colour with quality. Price differences further create opportunities for dishonest traders to adulterate the product. According to her, adulterators now use increasingly sophisticated methods that can evade basic quality checks.
Dangerous Substances in Palm Oil Raise Concerns
Dr Oseni identified several emerging adulteration risks that could threaten public health. These include the use of potentially carcinogenic Sudan and Azo dyes to change palm oil’s colour. She also raised concerns about blending palm oil with recovered or recycled oils. Spent cooking oil could also form part of such mixtures.
Furthermore, she warned about combinations involving multiple adulterants. Such mixtures can make detection more difficult.
The scholar also highlighted digital and traceability fraud. She said some operators could falsify product labels and batch records.
She called for the need for stronger surveillance and improved detection mechanisms across palm oil supply chain.
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Experts Push Stronger Detection
Dr Oseni advised consumers to use visual checks as an initial precaution. However, she stressed that appearance alone cannot confirm adulteration. She explained that palm oil may separate into layers. The lower layer may appear orange, red or yellowish rather than uniformly deep red.
Instead, she recommended a tiered detection system. This should combine risk-based screening, rapid physicochemical tests and spectroscopic analysis. Confirmatory laboratory testing should then follow, supported by proper sampling and chain-of-custody procedures.
LASCOPA Intensifies Market Surveillance
Dr Oseni proposed a five-step surveillance framework for Lagos: “Risk Map, Sample, Screen, Confirm and Act.” She also called for an adulteration intelligence database and stronger cooperation among regulators, traders, processors, laboratories and consumers.
LASCOPA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Afolabi Solebo, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to consumer protection. He urged Lagosians to “shine their eyes” and report suspected adulterated palm oil and unscrupulous traders through LASCOPA’s official channels.
As surveillance intensifies, the agency is urging consumers to remain alert and make informed purchasing decisions.
Meanwhile, in 2025, Aproko Doctor warned that adulterated palm oil has flooded the market. He also taught on detection of fake palm oil at home.
Watch his earlier video below:
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