Area
India
Commodity Group
Oilseeds, oils and meals
Commodity
Coconut oil
Date
01/04/2015
Policy Category
Consumption and marketing
Policy Instrument
Food safety
Description
Banned nine brands of coconut oil in Kerala State, following detection of severe adulteration.
Notes
In Kerala State, following reports on contamination in rice, the local government informed that measures to prevent adulteration in all food items would be strengthened. With respect to past cases of coconut oil adulteration (see MPPU May14), official sources said that no new instances of adulteration with mineral oil had been detected. However, numerous samples of coconut oil contaminated with edible palm and palm kernel oil had been found, triggering action against concerned manufacturers and distributors. Meanwhile, a local association of coconut oil producers is said to have launched a website to throw light on brands that sell adulterated oil in the market. Customers can have their oil checked for adulteration at government approved laboratories, and the results of these tests will be published on-line along with the brands name.
