The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned Ghanaians to be cautious with the kinds of palm oil we buy on the market, after an operation by the body led to the confiscation of palm oil on the market adulterated with industrial dye.

The palm oil confiscated by the body was found after testing to contain Susan III and IV dye, a highly dangerous textile dye which can cause cancer.

The FDA in a statement revealed that 98% of all products sampled contained the dye.

“The results showed that 98% of the palm oil tested positive to Sudan IV dye. Following up, the FDA on Tuesday, 20th October, 2015 in collaboration with the Narcotics Division of the Ghana Police Service apprehended some dealers suspected to be involved in this practice and confiscated the products, which were also analysed and found to contain Sudan III and Sudan IV dyes, leading to the arrest of 22 market women and a driver.”

The CEO of the FDA, Hudu Mogtari, said the dye was added to palm oil to enhance and maintain its colour to make it more appealing to consumers.

The FDA also said it is virtually impossible to tell just by looking at the palm oil that it has been adulterated, and thus the best option for now is to stop buying palm oil whilst they attempt to halt the practice.

A ban was recently placed on Ghanaian palm oil being imported into the EU, based on this same problem. This is not the first time a food product from Ghana has been banned on the world market.

Makes you wonder what exactly we are consuming down here…