Some consumers and traders in Lagos are increasingly relying on the taste, colour, aroma and consistency of palm oil to identify products they suspect may have been adulterated.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, September 27, traders and consumers said familiarity with genuine palm oil remained important, as some suspected adulterated products could appear similar to the original.
Chidinma Nwabueze, a palm oil trader at Oyingbo Market, said she sourced her products mainly from trusted factories and major suppliers, adding that experienced consumers could sometimes identify differences through colour, thickness and smell.
A resident of Apapa Road, Goodness Okoro, said her concerns arose after she used more palm oil than usual while preparing soup but failed to achieve the expected colour and consistency. Another resident, Mummy Joy of Ikotun, said she relied on appearance and taste when buying palm oil, while Okoro Ebube of Costain said he also examined the sediment and colour of the product.
Ebube urged relevant authorities to investigate suspected adulteration, expressing concern that colouring substances could make mixed products difficult for consumers to distinguish from genuine palm oil.
The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has also raised concerns over the increasing sophistication of palm oil adulteration and urged consumers to remain vigilant when purchasing the product, following a technical presentation at the Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition 2026.
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