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In August last year, large quantities of adulterated palm oil were confiscated by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) from 10 major markets in Accra and Tema.

The products, which were being sold at the Mallam Atta, Dome, Dansoman, Agbogbloshie and Kaneshie markets, all in Accra, were said to have been adulterated with Sudan IV, an industrial dye used in the coloration of plastics and other synthetic products.

Large quantities of the oil were also seized at the Madina, Makola No 2, Tema Community One and Ashaiman markets.

Officials of the FDA said initial laboratory analyses conducted on samples of the adulterated oil showed active dye (sudee) substance of about 98 per cent.

Sudan IV dye, according to research, has the potential of causing cancer when mixed with food and as such constituted a risk to public health.

The dangerous cancer-causing chemical, was reported to have been found in some samples of palm oil collected from the identified markets in Accra and Tema.

This revelation quickly received attention from the general public who were the major consumers of the product.

Fear gripped consumers of palm oil who had no idea that a chemical called Sudan IV was being added to palm oil.

Some consumers who spoke to Kasapa News at the time vowed never to buy palm oil from the market again.

As the saying goes, “one bad nut destroys the whole soup”;the issue therefore had an effect on some palm oil sellers who had never come into contact with the chemical.

Gradually, there was a drastic decline in the sale of palm oil across the country and as such, traders who could sell barrels of palm oil within a week could not even sell a quarter.

When I visited the Kaneshie and Agbogbloshie markets on Wednesday morning, most palm oil sellers refused to talk to me when I asked about how business was after what happened some months ago.

OBSERVATION

The palm oil sellers for fear of being victimized by their fellow traders at the market, refused to talk about anything relating to palm oil.

Some traders who mastered courage said although business had picked up it was very slow as compared to some years ago when there was no issue of people mixing Sudan IV with palm oil.

“Market is very slow but it is better than none. What happened last year still remains fresh in the minds of our customers. We understand them but we are also appealing to them to come and buy. There is no color and we will not sell anything dangerous to them”, the women said.

CONSUMERS

One beans seller who only gave her name as Korkor said, she has been buying palm oil from the market for over two years and has never bought colorized palm oil.

Customers who had lined up to buy themselves a plate of beans seemed not to be perturbed by the discussion I was having with the beans seller. All that mattered to them was to have their plate of beans mixed with palm oil for breakfast.

One woman who was at the market to do her regular Wednesday shopping said, she has stopped buying palm oil from the market for fear of buying colored palm oil.

Interestingly, she said she uses the oil she gets after preparing her palm nut soup since she believes it’s natural and has no colour.

CONCLUSION

In July this year, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) announced that palm oil sold in markets across the country is safe for consumption.

According to the authority, a market survey it conducted in 10 markets in the Greater Accra Region last November showed that 90 per cent of palm oil products in those markets were free from the Sudan IV dye, the textile dye that causes cancer.

The exercise by the Food and Drugs Authority in August last year, has made the traders more careful about the kinds of food they sell to the public.

The exercise I believe must be done frequently on all consumables to ensure the safety of the public.