Adulterated Coconut Oil Floods Market as Prices Skyrocket in State

KASARGOD: With the price of coconut oil skyrocketing, adulterated coconut oil is invading the markets in the state.

Coconut oil mixed with palm kernel oil, which is harmful for health, is being sold here widely under the pretext of pure coconut oil.

The palm kernel oil has the same characteristics and aroma of pure coconut oil, which makes it difficult to detect adulteration. One litre palm kernel oil costs only `20 to `40, whereas one litre coconut oil costs up to `180. So the merchants promote the sale of adulterated coconut oil eyeing huge profit. The Food Safety Officers are concerned about this and they have intensified raids at checkposts and shops.

Last month alone, over a hundred trucks carrying coconut oil were stopped in the checkposts to collect samples, of which, over 50 were found adulterated. It includes the one which was seized by the Food Safety Officers in Kollam on Thursday.

Even though developed nations have banned the import of palm kernel oil taking into account itsharmful effects on health, India has not done so. So Food Safety Officers cannot do anything until and unless the culprits are caught red-handed while selling adulterated oil or while mixing it. Malaysia is the major exporter of palm kernel oil and it is exported not for edible purposes but as a raw material for soap-making and other industries. “Importing palm kernel oil is not a crime and it is being used as a raw material in the soap-making industry. But everyday, hundreds of vehicles carrying palm kernel oil reach Kerala via checkposts and it poses a natural question, do we have that many soap industries in Kerala,” said a Food Safety Officer on condition of anonymity.

It is also alleged that politicians work hand in glove with those who supply palm kernel oil and many food safety officers have been transferred for intercepting vehicles carrying palm kernel oil.

Other than palm kernel oil, paraffin, petroleum byproducts and mineral oils etc. are also being widely used as coconut oil adulterants. Food Safety Commissioner-in-charge Anil Kumar, when contacted, said, “We have intensified raids and inspection in the wake of this. Strict instruction has also been given to Tamil Nadu Food Safety Commissionerate to monitor the outflow of oils to Kerala.”

He also said that there was nothing to worry as the palm kernel oil is as good as coconut oil.