The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently seized three petrol tankers loaded with soy oil in Lagos State due to concerns over potential public health risks. The agency discovered that the same tankers used for transporting vegetable oil had also been used for petroleum products, and the vehicles had conflicting labels indicating both food and fuel. This raised alarms about possible chemical contamination of the soy oil.
NAFDAC conducted a surveillance operation and found that the tankers were marked with labels for water, beverages, petrol, and diesel, leading to fears that petroleum residues could taint the edible oil. Petroleum products are carcinogenic and unsafe for consumption, which could result in serious health hazards.
A NAFDAC spokesperson emphasized the severity of the issue, noting that trucks labeled for vegetable oil should not also carry tags for petrol and diesel. An investigation is underway, and while there are claims that the trucks were initially meant for beverages, such practices are deemed unacceptable.
In response, NAFDAC has launched a thorough investigation to assess the extent of contamination and to prevent future incidents. Prof. Moji Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General, has set up a committee to create guidelines and ethical standards for the marketing and distribution of edible vegetable oils in Nigeria. The agency also encourages the public to report any suspicious activities related to food and regulated products.
