CEFSAR warns of toxic risks in local vegetable oils

A groundbreaking scientific study by researchers at the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR) has uncovered alarming health hazards linked to the consumption of locally produced crude palm and groundnut oils sold in various parts of Nigeria.

The study, led by Q. M. Amua alongside J. O. Abah, G. M. Muyong, and N. B. Bongjo, points to serious deviations from international food safety standards in the quality of these widely consumed vegetable oils.

According to the findings, several samples tested revealed dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals, including cadmium, nickel, and arsenic.

Groundnut oil samples were found to contain cadmium concentrations that far exceeded the maximum permissible limits set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Additionally, elevated levels of nickel and arsenic were also detected, both of which pose long-term risks to human health, including kidney damage and carcinogenic effects.

Perhaps most alarming was the detection of aflatoxins—a group of potent carcinogens produced by certain molds. Groundnut oil samples recorded aflatoxin levels as high as 10.13 parts per million (ppm), significantly breaching international safety thresholds.

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Aflatoxins are known to cause liver damage and are particularly dangerous when consumed over extended periods.

The study also assessed the physicochemical properties of the oils and found them to be substandard across multiple parameters, indicating poor production practices and lack of quality control.

These include issues with peroxide values, acid content, and iodine numbers—important indicators of oil stability, safety, and shelf life.

In light of these findings, the researchers urgently call for the enforcement of standardized refining protocols and stricter regulatory oversight.

They also recommend the adoption of high-quality seed materials and modern extraction techniques to ensure the production of safer, market-compliant edible oils.

“This is a public health emergency that requires immediate attention,” the researchers stated. “Ensuring the safety of food oils is not only a consumer right but a national health imperative.”

The study has reignited calls for a nationwide review of food safety regulations and the strengthening of enforcement mechanisms across local markets and informal production sectors.

CEFSAR emphasizes that addressing these issues is critical to safeguarding public health and fostering trust in Nigeria’s food supply chain.