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  • Killer palm oil floods markets

    Killer palm oil floods markets

    Gboyega Alaka chronicles the growing presence of adulterated palm oil in the Nigerian market and the dangers they portend for unsuspecting consumers

    You must have seen them. Or perhaps tasted of them, albeit unwittingly. Adulterated palm oil or killer palm oil as some people have come to term them. They are everywhere in the Nigerian market. For the not-too discerning buyer, these set of oils even get the nod ahead of the pure unadulterated palm oil on the shelves because they come across as more alluring. What are the tell-tales? Redness; they are unusually red and attractive, while some are almost impossible to differentiate.

    From Ikotun market in Lagos to Jankara, to Mushin, Ajegunle, in Lagos, Ibadan and as far as Potiskum in Jos, the story is the same. Nigerians go to the market with the intention of buying palm oil to cook their meals but end up with poison. Yes, consumers do not die immediately, but that does not make it less poisonous; or how does one describe inedible substances and chemicals deliberatly mixed with food ingredients and sold to innocent people?

    Palm oil ordinarily enjoys a universal acceptance amongst all Nigerian tribes, to the extent that no home-made meal is complete without it (or vegetable oil).

    Palm oil in Nigeria is derived mainly from African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), popularly referred to as Palm Tree.  It is naturally a reddish-orange colour because it has very high beta-carotene content. It is richly endowed with so many health and nutritional benefits. According to Organicfacts.com, an online health journal, the health benefits of palm oil include improving energy levels, preventing cancer, boosting the immune system, helping to prevent aging, protecting against heart diseases and also beneficial to pregnant women. More recently, it has become more popular because of the risk of bad cholesterol associated with other cooking oil. Aside energy, its beta-carotene content also boosts hormonal balance in the body, and enhances vision. The source also states that it prevents macular degeneration and cataracts, thereby enhancing sight.

    This is why this habit of adulterating the oil is attracting so much attention. “What else do we turn to?” Morayo, a housewife around Mushin area of Lagos, asked this reporter almost rhetorically, during one of his fact-finding mission. Palm oil also has high level of HDL, good cholesterol, which helps to maintain a good balance of cholesterol in the body and by implication, ensure a healthier cardiovascular system. It’s rich in Tocopherols , a type of vitamin A antioxidants, that also help to prevent cancer by neutralising free radicals, which experts say cause healthy cells to mutate into cancerous cells.

    It is therefore unfortunate that this rather healthy gift of nature is gradually being bastardised to the extent that man now needs to be more alert when buying and consuming it or products for which it serves as a component.

    Adulterated palm oil everwhere

    At Ikotun Market, arguably one of the biggest markets in Lagos, an elderly woman, Mrs Saratu (not real name), who deals in yam and other farm stuff in the market, spoke of how adulterated palm oil has taken over the market. “Adulterated palm oil is what we have in the market right now. I mistakenly bought it sometime ago and regretted it. It is adulterated with chemicals and colouring. I got to know the secret when one of the sellers operated close to me, before she closed down due to debt incurred from a microfinance bank.”

    Asked if there is a marked difference between the pure oil and the adulterated one, Mrs Saratu said, “It is attractive when you behold it in a bottle, but when you cook with it, the chemical with which it had been mixed will not allow you to enjoy the soup. Apart from showing in the colour, which makes the soup as red as blood, the chemical does not allow you to enjoy the soup, as it mars the taste and makes it nauseating. And that is aside whatever health danger the chemical may carry. And as for me, anything that will harm my body, I have sworn not to take, except if I don’t know.”

    Continuing, she said: “I wonder why they are not just selling the oil pure, even if it is more expensive, at least, people will eat and remain healthy. And it is not as if the mixed one is cheaper. I think it is mainly because the chemical and colouring make the oil red and more attractive. Please, help us tell the government to look into it before these greedy traders kill us all. They don’t seem to care about the risk they are putting the people through. All they are interested in is the money they are making.”

    Asked how she gets her supply now, or if she now has a way of detecting the adulterated type, Mrs. Saratu said she now buys from source in Edo State, since it is not so easy to determine which has been mixed. “I give money to my contacts who supply me yam in Edo and other states to help me buy pure unadulterated palm oil from source, and this is what I take with my family and sales people who live with me. I buy in gallons, but how many people can do that?”

    Another woman, Lara, a journalist in Lagos, said the situation is horrible and dangerous to healthy living. Her experience: “I bought it once and it was really appalling. The odour that greeted me the moment I got home was really offensive. Aside that, there were so many dirt and particles; most of them blackish. It was so bad that I just closed the lid and went out to buy another oil. I couldn’t cook with it. I think one of the reasons I fell for it was because I did not taste it. Usually, I taste my oil before buying. “

    Since then, Lara said she has been more careful, taking time to always taste the oil and stick to one customer, whom she can trust and who has so far never failed her.

    Unlike Mrs. Saratu, Lara said the one she bought was not attractive. “It had the same reddish-orange colour but was clearly adulterated. And it was not as if it was cheaper. As a matter of fact, they even make it look more expensive by giving it a higher price tag. That was last December, but after that, I have been extremely careful, making sure I only buy from one customer, whom I trust.,” she said.

    Yetunde, another journalist, also recounted how her experience made her stop buying palm oil in Lagos. Last year, she said her sister bought a 250 litre palm oil, which they both shared. “Initially,” she said, “the content looked really good. Even when we started using it, it tasted really nice. However, by the time we used it halfway, we discovered that the colour and taste were changing. The content in the gallon had become thick and black. It was then that it dawned on me that the palm oil was adulterated. We stopped using it immediately.”

    So now, she buys her palm oil only outside Lagos. “Each time my sister or anyone is travelling out of Lagos, I ask them to help me buy from source, to avoid making the same mistake.” She would not allow some bad people to poison her and her family in their greed.

    Barakat, a housewife and businesswoman, also condemned the adulterated palm oil, which she said may be the cause of the numerous cases of cancer now afflicting the country. A 41-year-old woman, she said in her younger days, cancer was virtually unheard of and wondered why some people, would, for the sake of making money, be poisoning their countrymen and women. To underline her angst over the adulterated oil, Barakat told this reporter of how she has taken it upon herself to enlighten as many people as she knows and come across, never to buy the palm oil. She does not know exactly what chemicals it is adulterated with, but vows that they cannot be edible stuffs. She also wonders what NAFDAC is doing about it.

    It is from Cotonou – Head, Ikotun palm oil sellers

    One of the wholesale dealers in Ikotun Market, who gave his name as John, would not divulge any information. He denied knowing about adulterated palm oil and would not tell where he sources his supply from, save an umbrella statement that: “My oga buys it from the East.”

    Attempts at getting information from the retailers also met with denials and rebuffs.

    Ifeanyi, a bulky elderly man, is the head of palm oil retailers in Ikotun Market, Lagos. In an attempt to unravel the riddle behind the unwholesome practice and ask if anything is being done to stem the situation, this reporter sought  his opinion.

    He admitted that he is aware of the adulterated palm oil, but said it is the ones brought to Nigeria from Cotonou via Idiroko border that are adulterated. On his own, he said he does not mix his oil and that he sells it as it is delivered from the producers.

    When asked what the perpetrators use to mix the oil, he said he did not know. When this reporter told him about his finding that the dealers mix the oil with bad cholesterol vegetable oil, colouring and other chemicals, he said he was not aware.

    And on the effort his association is making to stem the practice, Ifeanyi said the association tries its best, but insisted that it is a difficult situation, as it is hard to catch the perpetrators in the act. On some occasions, he confessed that they have had to fight some of those involved in the practice and admitted almost helplessly that “they just seem unwilling to desist.”

    As for him, Ifeanyi said he sells original, unadulterated palm oil, but disclosed that even the consumers/buyers make things difficult, as they always ask for the adulterated ones, albeit unknowingly, because of its ‘rich’ colour and attractiveness. “And you know that in business, demand drives supply. So the sellers try to meet up with demand.,” He said.

    ‘They’re all culpable’

    Mrs Saratu on sighting this reporter with the head of the palm oil sellers association, however, vowed that even he is into the unwholesome practice. She expressed surprise that even Ifeanyi was the head of the oil; sellers and said that is a sign that ‘we’re all in trouble.’

    When asked if she ever sighted NAFDAC officials cracking down on the adulterated oil sellers, Mrs. Saratu said she had no idea.

    Nowhere is safe

    For those taking solace in buying the products from outside Lagos, it might not yet be uhuru, as some unscrupulous elements are even said to be engaged in the dangerous habit. Sometime last year, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NCDSC) arrested some suppliers in Potiskum, Jos, for allegedly adulterating the product with dye. Their arrests at the time led to the confiscation of several other samples, which after lab tests by NAFDAC, showed traces of high acid, high saponification and high relative density.

    Lawal Musa Dadingelma, the state’s coordinator of NAFDAC, confirmed that the adulterated palm oil samples tested contained dye which is capable of causing cancer when deposited in human body. And these were just a tip of the iceberg of people who might be engaged in the nefarious activity. The Medical Director of Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, Damaturu, Dr. Garba Fika, was also quoted by a national daily to have confirmed an increase in the number of cancer cases. Ditto, several other hospitals in the country. Even the ministry of health has confirmed this.

    Last year, Francis Durosinmi-Etti, a professor of Oncology and Radiotherapy at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, disclosed that 500,000 new cases are diagnosed yearly in the country. Speaking at his inaugural lecture, titled, “That We May Overcome Cancer: The Odyssey of a Radiation Oncologist” in Lagos, cited lack of basic infrastructure and late report by patients, as reasons. But with the spread in these ‘evil’ palm oil, the professor might have overlooked one major factor, albeit unwittingly.

    Dr Abubakar Jimoh, Director, Special Duties at  NAFDAC, confirmed that the trend is not new and that the agency is aware of the dangerous practice. Even as far back as ten years ago, when it first got wind of the trend, he said the agency, under the late Prof Dora Akunyili, waged a ceaseless battle against the perpetrators in the markets. “We also made it a point to educate the public about the presence of the product and sensitise them. We discovered a particular colourant, with which they mixed the oil to make it more attractive and get people to buy.”

    During a lab test, Jimoh said they discovered that the palm oil is mixed with of Azo dye. “Azo dye is a dye used in dying clothes and is not to be consumed because it is highly carcinogenic, which means it can cause cancer. It is the major colourant used but it is dangerous enough.”

    He said the first challenge the agency faced back then was whether to dabble into it or not, since it especially didn’t fall into its purview. “We were torn between cracking down on it and being passive, because it does not really fall under the purview of NAFDAC. NAFDAC, based on law, is concerned with processed food. But it got to a point, where we decided that we had to think outside the box. For the sake of the people, we had to redefine our role and commenced a public enlightenment process to get people aware. Market women particularly.”

    He confessed though that the agency has not sustained the battle, especially because it has had to do battle on so many fronts. “There are so many issues, including fake/counterfeit drugs that is still daunting, not to talk of other processed foods. There is also the issue of bringing the quality of export agricultural products to par with standards. “

    He concluded that what the agency needs still is “a lot of public enlightenment. If people are aware, then they will not fall prey. Another thing we’re planning is to begin to make people scapegoats. So far we have been restraining ourselves from literally taking over the role of the police, so to speak.”

    He admits that the agency would eventually resort to cracking down, but said for now, it aiming to get Nigerians to take their destinies in their hands and try to be vigilant and careful. I can tell you that the local market women have very discernible eyes to detect such adulterated product. “By just looking and tasting, they are able to decipher and differentiate. It is called organoleptic test. Even scientists do organoleptic tests to eliminate products before embarking on tests. That is the first natural test, before any lab tests.”

    Jimoh, however, said the agency’s Food Nutrition and Applied Nutrition Department recently disclosed to him that it is part of their plan to carry out a nationwide survey. “That survey will help us take samples from markets and suppliers across the country to see what new tricks or addition they’ve brought on aside azo dye. The survey would also aim to gauge how impactful our enlightenment campaigns have been on the market habits of the consumers. It is after that we will take more actions, such as raids. The only raids we have done in the past were on vegetable oil.”

    Adulterated palm oil can cause cancer – Chemist

    Life MarchDr Abayomi Akeem of Environmental and Analytical Chemistry Research Group,  University of Lagos, expresses his dismay on adulterated palm oil in the market and warns that it can cause cancer and other health complications.

    What are the dangers in consuming such palm oil?

    As in all adulterated foods, impacts on health could range from a mild discomfort to serious long term effects such as cancer and organ impairment, depending on the chemical composition of the additive used in the food. There have been reports of gastrointestinal issues from people who allegedly consumed foods prepared with adulterated palm oil.

    Have you seen these adulterated palm oils or done any analysis?

    I have not seen adulterated palm oil or perhaps I have had no intuitive need to look out for such. That is not say I might not have seen one unknowingly on the supermarket shelves. I always try to avoid smartly packaged palm oil, since it is one item that is still amply produced locally. I believe the rural dwellers are likely no to have access to these chemicals, which in all likelihood do not come cheaply. Thus, when buying palm oil for use, I buy from source. I have not carried out any analysis on palm oil especially with respect to this emerging concern but it will be interesting to quickly do so in order to have a scientifically provable fact to the insinuation.

    There have been fears about the chemicals being carcinogenic, what is your opinion on this?

    As to the chemicals being used, unconfirmed reports indicates they are dyes, presumably to enhance the red hue of the oil. If this is true, consuming artificially formulated dyes or pigments could be poisonous, depending on the composition of the dye. Some dye are formulated using colourful and often toxic metals, which could bioaccumulate in the body and damage its physiology, while other dyes are azo dyes which have allergenic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects on humans. If the presence of any of these dyes is confirmed to be present in the oil, then this must be taken as an emergency by the regulatory bodies.

    There have been fears that these adulterated palm oils may be responsible for the rise in cancer cases; what do you think?

    This may not be a definitive statement, as there is presently no peer reviewed publication to this effect to my knowledge. However, the newly acquired knack of Nigerians to go for processed, packaged and often colourful foods is obviously doing more damage to our health, thus the increasing incidences of these terrible ailments. So, it is not only in palm oil that one may be exposed to cancer, other foods and condiments, in addition to our rapidly deteriorating urban environment, may also serve as exposure route for these ailments. The concern is that most of these foods find their ways onto our supermarket shelves without the necessary certification by NAFDAC.

    A particular consumer said the one she bought had repulsive odour and filled with blackish particles.

    If this is proven to be true, then samples must be obtained and adequately tested to determine the constituent. The repulsive odour may be due to the presence of the dye. Dyes, especially the azo types, smell awfully. The presence of particles as an indication of artificial additives may not be conclusive, as wholly natural palm oil may still contain particles if not refined properly.

    The adulterated oil seems to be everywhere; this probably casts a question mark on the efficiency of NAFDAC, what do you think? What do you think can be done to exterminate these dangerous products in the market?

    The problem is that products get into the market faster than NAFDAC could effectively monitor. Nigerians can also assist by reporting suspicions of such food items to the regulatory bodies for prompt action. I will encourage consumers to move as close as possible to the base of the production chain when buying food items, especially those that are still produced locally. In other words, patronise the traders who bring in fresh produce from the hinterland rather than looking for attractively packaged food items on the shelves. In so doing, the probability of buying adulterated items might be reduced. Also, as there is virtually no household in Nigeria which does not consume palm oil, the item must be listed as a priority food which requires regular sampling, by NAFDAC, from the local markets and departmental stores to determine their constituents.

  • Stories around palm oil

    Please perish the thought dear reader, Hardball would not dare repeat here, that silly tale about Malaysia taking a few palm oil seedlings from Nigeria in the 60s, blah, blah, blah. Even Hardball would probably cry if he hears that story one more time.

    It is a sad tale about Nigeria’s failure; everyone knows it, everyone tells it to everyone who re-tells to everyone who re-tells, on and on, ad-nauseam. We have probably told it for all of three decades yes; 30 years in case you think that was a slip.

    Yes, one whole, long generation of Nigerians have regaled themselves with this woe tales, yet concrete actions were never taken to change the situation.

    Back then, Nigeria was among the top exporters of crude palm oil. But today, Malaysia is world leader in the commodity they say, but they don’t know that this is just a small bit of the huge oil palm story.

    They do not know that other Asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Burma now dominate this oil trade, which has a global value of about $50 billion. They do not know that palm oil, like crude oil, can be broken down into different variants and grades. It is no longer the good red oil we used to know.

    We are still fixated on the palm oil story of the 60s, but it’s a different story now for palm oil, which incidentally, makes up more than half of the oil and fats consumed in the world today.

    It is a big industry, big business for countries, who know how to do big things. For instance, the oil palm research institute set up by Malaysia in the 60s has grown into a major Agriculture University. But its counterpart in Nigeria has become a shadow of itself, perhaps half overgrown by weeds. But why is Hardball getting so oily-soily today? It is about a report that Nigeria recently imported about N12 billion worth of palm oil in October and November. And that indeed, Nigeria needs about 2.7 million metric tons of palm oil yearly, but can hardly produce 1 million tons. She has to import the bulk of the rest.

    How can this be happening when one state in the Southeast or Southsouth can produce Nigeria’s need? How can we now turn around to claim that some states are not viable or that they cannot afford to meet basic salary bills, yet they sit on a palm oil industry that yields more than all the money that accrues to them from federal allocation?

    While the price of the much more favoured crude oil has been dropping that of palm oil is rising in global markets. The prospects for this native commodity are actually bright, but only those who are working will reap them, not those telling and re-telling old oil stories.

    The only story left untold and which desperately needs to be told about the crop ancient to our land would be a come-back story. Let the world tell how Nigeria miraculously raised the dying palm oil industry back to number one in the world in a couple of years. That would be the story!

  • ‘You don’t need that much palm oil’

    ‘You don’t need that much palm oil’

    OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes that reducing the quantity of palm oil consumed can further reduce heart diseases.

    The rate at which Nigerians consume palm oil is raising concerns. This is because palm oil has been identified to be a significant factor causing cardio vascular diseases (CVDs). According to health experts, cooking at home with unmeasured palm oil, eating out at Bukateria, also known as Buka, Mama put or canteen, to eating assorted meats known as orisirisi, as well as consuming ‘butter and bread’ could cause CVDs such as heart attack.

    Worried by the increasing rate of cardio vascular diseases (CVDs) in the country the experts have called on the Federal Ministry of Health to make available daily dietary allowances for Nigerians and promote public awareness on same.

    The authorities converged at a summit on Lipids and Cardiovascular health among Nigerians. It was organised by the Nigerian Heart Foundation and National Heart Health and Nutrition. At the summit, they agreed that the risk factors for the increase in CVD death rates include Tobacco use, unhealthy dietary changes (related to trans-fats and oils) leading to abnormal blood lipid levels, high intake of salt, low intake of dietary fibre. They also lamented that there are many brands of vegetable and animal oils in the market without appropriate labeling of their constituents and origin (plant or animal source).

    They explained that unregulated consumption of palm oil could increase cholesterol levels, as a diet high in saturated fat increases the risk of heart disease and encourages the buildup of plaque in the arterial walls. Each tablespoon of palm oil, they said, contains seven grams of saturated fat, which is almost half of the daily limit in a 2,000-calorie diet. If one is consuming palm oil in addition to other saturated fat sources — like dairy, meat and processed foods – one might exceed the limit, they said.

    The experts included Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, represented by Dr Chris Isokpunwu of Department of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health; President, Nigerian Heart Foundation, Prof O.O Akinkugbe; Director, Nigerian Heart Foundation, Dr Kingsley Akinroye; Prof Tola Atinwo of Department of Nutrition, University of Ibadan; Prof B.J.C Onwubere of Department of Medicine, University Teaching Hospital, Enugu; Prof O.J Odia of Department of Medicine University of Port Harcourt and Rutger Schilpz and of Choices International Foundation, Belgium.

    Others are: Director of Nutrition, Nigerian Heart Foundation, Prof.  Olusola Omueti;  Lead Nutrition Consultant, Xpertsolutions, Mrs Charlotee Foluso Babasola; Director, Research and Planning Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Prof Oni Odigbe; Prof Ambrose Isah of Department of Medicine,  Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Benin; Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Heart Foundation, Dr Olufemi Mobolaji-Lawal; Director General, Nigeria  Centre for Disease Control, Prof Abdulsalami Nasidi;

    So also Prof. Osaratin James Odia of Dept of Medicine, University of Port-Harcourt; Dean, Post Graduate School, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Prof Olugbenga  Ben Ogunmoyela and Dr Adeola Yetunde Olukosi of Dept. of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).

    Coordinator, Centre for Disease Control, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Prof Obehi Okojie; Chairman, Executive Board, Nigerian Heart Foundation, Prof Basden J.C. Onwubere; former Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Akin Osibogun (Dept of Community Health, College of Medicine University  of Lagos) were all there.

    According to them, there has been sub-optimal emphasis on heart healthy foods, which contributes to the low awareness of what constitutes healthy foods, especially in relation to heart health, just as there has been a gradual shift from heart healthy foods to ‘westernised diets’, which is as a result of rural-uban migration and urbanisation.

    The professionals said abnormal lipid profile (raised TC, LDL-C, TGL and low HDL-C) have been associated with Coronary artery disease and Peripheral artery disease, which resulted in high mortality and morbidity rates, especially in developing countries such as Nigeria, just as there is a steady increase in the prevalence of Ischaemic heart disease in the country.

    In the words of Prof  Akinkugbe, there is a relationship between lipids and CV health in Nigeria. “Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major public health problem gbobally, being an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Elevated levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol are documented as risk factors for heart disease.

    “The blood level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol in contrast bears an inverse relationship to the risk of coronary heart disease: the higher the level, the lesser the risk,” said Prof Akinkugbe.

    He explained that the situation of palm oil as regards its effect on cardiovascular diseases has generated global controversy.

    “In Nigeria, palm oil is the most commonly used oil at home for cooking. In the urban area 60.5 percent of adults use palm oil for cooking. In the rural area 90 per cent of the population use palm oil for cooking. The mean total population cholesterol is 122.4- or + 42 mg/dl, which is lower than most developed countries. However, the cholesterolemic ability of palm-oil may be considered minimal, though it needs to be scientifically documented,” explained Prof Akinkugbe.

  • Rescind ban on crude palm oil, stakeholders urge Minister

    Rescind ban on crude palm oil, stakeholders urge Minister

    Stakeholders in the agric and manufacturing industry have called on the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, to intervene by encouraging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reverse its foreign exchange (forex) policy that included one of their most important raw materials, Crude Palm Oil (CPO) on the ‘not valid for forex’ list.

    Speaking in a forum with industrialists in Lagos, MAN President, Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs, said forex should be made available for genuine manufacturers that use CPO as a major raw material for production of end products such as noodles, biscuits, cosmetics, etc.

    According to him, this singular decision by the apex bank threatened the existence of several manufacturing companies who rely heavily on crude palm oil as a major raw material for production. “These companies have invested heavily in plants and machinery worth several billions of dollars in the country and what the CBN is indirectly telling them is that it could not be bothered with the challenges this policy is posing to our members,” he said.

    The MAN boss noted that affected companies have leaned towards the agricultural sector as part of their backward integration programme, creating more jobs and strengthening the nation’s ability to be self-sufficient in food, beverage and cosmetic production.

    He hailed the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on its move to revive local industries through this policy, but insisted that there are certain indices that must be taken into consideration before full implementation of the policy.

    Jacobs explained that while the policy is a welcome development, there should be no sudden obstruction to importation of the raw material that is needed for local production, especially when demand for such material cannot be met locally.

    According to IndexMundi, a data portal, the domestic palm oil produced in Nigeria totalled 930,000 metric tonnes (MT) in 2014. The consumption of palm oil in Nigeria amounts to 2.0 million MT per year. Official figures estimate the shortage in oil palm industry at 900,000 MT yearly. This poses a very precarious situation for the manufacturing sector that depends largely on CPO as a major source of raw material.

    Experts say if the gap is not filled with the massive importation of high quality food grade palm oil, the economy will lose further investment in the manufacturing sector as companies would be forced to shut down and relocate their business outside the country, like it happened in the past.

    Some analysts are already predicting the mass movement of manufacturing companies to friendly West African countries with robust manufacturing policies if the government insists on going ahead with policies that are inimical to manufacturing.

  • Reports demystify palm oil myths, expose benefits

    Over the past two decades, researchers have painstakingly studied palm oil’s effect on cardiovascular health. The results have been surprising to researchers. Although high in saturated fat, it protects against heart disease.

    Studies show that adding palm oil into the diet can remove plaque build up in arteries and, therefore, reverse the process of atherosclerosis. This has been demonstrated in both animal and human studies. In one study, for instance, 50 subjects were divided into two equal groups. All the participants had been diagnosed with atherosclerosis and had suffered at least one stroke.

    At the beginning of the study the degree of blockage of their carotid arteries ranged from 15 to 79 per cent. Without any other changes to their diets or medications, half of the subjects began taking a daily palm oil supplement. The other half received placebos and served as the control. The degree of atherosclerosis was monitored using ultrasound scans over an 18-month period. In the group receiving palm oil, atherosclerosis was halted in 23 of the 25 subjects. In seven of these subjects atherosclerosis was not only stopped, but also regressed. In comparison, none of those in the control group showed any improvement, in fact, the condition in 10 of them worsened. This study demonstrated that palm oil can not only stop, but even reverse atherosclerosis.

    Removing plaque is not the only way palm oil protects against strokes and heart attacks. Palm oil can also improve cholesterol values. In a study at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, researchers demonstrated a 10 per cent decrease in total cholesterol in 36 hypercholesterolemic (high cholesterol) subjects given palm oil capsules for four weeks. A follow-up study of 16 subjects resulted in a 13 per cent lowering of total cholesterol.

    Palm oil helps maintain proper blood pressure. The high antioxidant content of the oil quenches free radicals and keeps inflammation under control. Tocotrienols also strengthen the heart so that it can better withstand stress.

    Researchers can purposely induce heart attacks in lab animals by cutting off blood flow to the heart. This causes severe injury and death. However, if the animals are fed palm oil the survival rate is greatly increased, injury is minimised, and recovery is quicker.

    After looking at studies like this it becomes obvious that palm oil protects against heart disease. This is confirmed in populations where palm oil consumption is particularly high. Heart disease in Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Nigeria – where palm oil is a major if not the sole source of visible fat in the daily diet – are among the lowest in the world.

    Studies show palm tocotrienols inhibit the growth of skin, stomach, pancreas, liver, lung, colon, prostate, breast and other cancers. Most of the research to date has been done with breast cancer where tocotrienols show great promise. They not only prevent cancer from taking hold, but also actively block its growth and initiate apoptosis – a process where diseased cells commit suicide. This is a normal process that is programmed into all of our cells in order to remove old and diseased cells. However, in cancer cells, this process is blocked and affected cells continue to multiply and grow without restraint. Ordinary Vitamin E does not induce programmed cell death in cancer cells. Only tocotrienols have this effect.

    The antioxidant power of palm oil has also shown to be of benefit in protecting against neurological degeneration. Two of the most significant factors that affect brain function are oxidative stress and poor circulation.

    Oxidative stress generates free radicals that damage brain and nerve tissue. Poor circulation affects the brain by restricting oxygen and glucose, which are vital for proper brain function. Researchers have found correlations between oxidative stress and reduced blood flow to the brain to senile dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and even schizophrenia. All of these conditions involve brain cell death. Tocotrienols aid the brain by reducing oxidative stress and improving blood flow.

    Additional reports from Better Health News Journal US

  • Reports demystify palm oil myths, expose benefits

    Reports demystify palm oil myths, expose benefits

    Red palm oil not only supplies fatty acids essential for proper growth and development, it is packed with an assortment of vitamins, antioxidants and other phytonutrients important for good health.

    For instance, the red colour comes from carotenes such as beta-carotene and lycopene – the same nutrients that give tomatoes and carrots and other fruits and vegetables their rich red and orange colours.

    Carotenes are valuable nutrients and powerful antioxidants. They are also important because the body can convert them into Vitamin A, an essential nutrient.

    Vitamin A deficiency can cause blindness, weaken bones, lower immunity and adversely affect learning ability and mental function.

    Vitamin A is only found in animal foods. Such foods are too expensive for many people. Carotenes in fruits and vegetables can supply the needed Vitamin A if an adequate amount of fat is also consumed. Carotenes require fat for conversion into Vitamin A. Unfortunately, those who cannot afford animal products often do not eat much fat either.

    Populations with ample carotene-rich foods available often suffer from vitamin A deficiency because they don’t get enough fat in their diet. Dr. Albert Egbuehi of the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine University of Lagos said: “Red palm oil is the richest dietary source of provitamin A carotenes (beta-carotene and alpha-carotene). It has 15 times more provitamin A carotenes than carrots and 300 times more than tomatoes. This has made it a valued resource in the treatment of Vitamin A deficiency. Just one teaspoon a day of red palm oil supplies children with the daily recommend amount of Vitamin A. Nursing mothers are encouraged to supplement their diet with palm oil to enrich their milk with the vitamin.”

    Studies, however, show that adding red palm oil into the diet can double or triple the amount of Vitamin A in mother’s milk.

    The children are not only getting the Vitamin A they need but other important nutrients as well. Red palm oil is a virtual powerhouse of nutrition. It contains by far, more nutrients than any other dietary oil. In addition to beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and lycopene it contains at least 20 other carotenes along with Vitamin E, Vitamin K, CoQ10, squalene, phytosterols, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and glycolipids.

    Red palm oil is loaded with so many nutrients and antioxidants, it’s like a natural dietary supplement. In fact, it is currently being encapsulated and sold as a vitamin supplement.

    The depletion of antioxidants including antioxidant enzymes is known to increase the risk of complications in conditions such as CVD, diabetes and cancer.

    “This study was performed to examine the influence of red palm oil (RPO) supplementation on antioxidant enzymes in a rodent model,” Oguntibeju said.

    “Results showed that RPO caused a significant increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes: Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Reductase (GR) Catalase (CAT), but showed no observable effect on GSH.”

    He concluded that the oil could minimise oxidative damage through its potential ability to increase antioxidant enzymes.

    “RPO may therefore play a role in the prevention and treatment of oxidative injuries to explore and support this hypothesis,” he stated.

    Antioxidant enzymes are the main defence components of the biological systems in both humans and animals. Endogenous antioxidants as intracellular defence systems protect cells from free radical damage and extensive lysis but are not 100 per cent.

    “Therefore the intake of dietary-derived antioxidants (such as those present in RPO) could be of significant importance in curtailing the cumulative oxidative damage to macromolecules,” he said.

    Over the past two decades, researchers have painstakingly studied palm oil’s effect on cardiovascular health. The results have been surprising to researchers. Although high in saturated fat, it protects against heart disease.

    To be continued next week. Additional reports from Better Health News Journal US.

  • Reports demystify palm oil myths, expose benefits

    Reports demystify palm oil myths, expose benefits

    For months now, I have been planning on writing this piece but because it is not time bound, I always pushed it aside to attend to time-bound stories.

    The main thing that aroused my interest in this story is a currently running television advert about a particular brand of oil that claims to be unsaturated, cholesterol free and purportedly good for our heart.

    Unfortunately and ignorantly, the television advertisement opened with “we all know that palm oil is bad for you just like saturated oil… “ The said advertisement infers that palm oil is bad. Then some time ago, I walked into a pharmacy shop on Opebi Rd, Ikeja, and on the shelf were bottles of red palm oil (RPO) food supplement capsules. Though I have heard of its existence since 2013, it was my first time of coming across it in Nigeria.

    I checked the containers of the supplement and saw that they originated from the US. The three different brands: ‘natural red palm oil concentrate softgels’, ‘red palm oil capsules Juka’s Organic Co’, ‘red palm oil, the new super food of the year, by Botanic Choice’.

    Stopping in my tracks, I pondered ‘red palm oil in capsules’. I thought palm oil is bad for our health, especially the heart and now is being promoted as a food supplement. I know a few people with health issues who will not touch red palm oil even with a pole.

    Recently, in the US, a very popular American television host, Dr. Oz, referred to RPO as the miracle oil for longevity and the new weight loss miracle. Dr. Oz is an accomplished and still active cardiovascular surgeon. He is an academic and a research scientist who has hundreds of scientific publications to his name.

    For years, scientists from the so-called developed world, especially the United States, have campaigned relentlessly against the consumption of RPO. It was a target of massive advertising campaign, including widely published allegations that it was hazardous to health.

    It was attacked as ‘saturated’ since it contains 44% palmitic acid and 5% stearic acid, thereby allegedly raises blood cholesterol and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

    Because it was comparatively new to many of the so-called developed countries, it was judged solely on the basis of its saturated fatty acid content while its numerous benefits were over looked.

    Those days, especially before the 1990s, food producers in the US had to state ‘No red palm oil’ in food labels for consumers to patronise them.

    However, many reputable scientists both abroad and home have conducted more than eighty research studies in order to help dispel these inaccurate myths and share the truth about palm oil.

    The positive results of these nutrition studies have persuaded many to reconsider their previous judgments on palm oil. A major milestone for the positive reputation of palm oil was when the US Food and Drug Administration [FDA] announced in 1994 that it would no longer permit the use of ‘No red palm oil’ labelling.

    That helped reinforce that “facts’’ rather than “myths” will prevail with regard to palm oil.

    A sizable and growing body of scientific evidence indicates that palm oil effect on blood cholesterol is relatively neutral when compared to other fats and oils. A recent study comparing the effect of palm oil and olive oil enriched diets on 21 healthy, free living normocholosterolemic subjects found no difference in total and LDL cholesterol levels. There appears to be several explanations. Palm oil contains a high percentage of monounsaturates[40%]. Palm oil saturated fatty acids are palmitic [44%] and stearic [5%] which do not appear to elevate blood cholesterol in people with cholesterol within normal range.

    Recent animal studies found that palm oil stimulates the synthesis of protective HDL cholesterol and removal of harmful LDL cholesterol.

    It also appears that palm oil, compared to polyunsaturated oils, poses a reduced risk for cancer. This may be due to the tocotrionols in palmoil.

    In fact, Professor KK Carol of the Centre for Human Nutrition at the University of Western Ontario and David Kritchevsky of the Wister Institute recently concluded that evidence indicates that tocotrienols in palm oil are effective anti-cancer agents and provide adequate justification for clinical trials in human cancer patients.

     Recently at the International Conference Centre Birmingham at the Biomedical Science Congress, Dr. Oluwafemi O. Oguntibeju, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health & Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville Campus, South Africa, further elucidated the potential of the red palm oil in the healing process.

    Scientifically known as Elaeis Guineensis, palm oil is believed to originate from West Africa. However, archaeological evidence on palm oil consumption was found in Egypt over 5000 years ago.

    Essentially, it contains rich, balanced mixture of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, providing a higher level of bioavaliable nutrients than any other vegetable source.

    Like coconut oil, palm oil is also rich in medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), which mobilise body fat stores, increase the metabolic rate and are a great source of energy.

    Palm oil is a rich source of antioxidants, especially Vitamin E. While the health benefits of Vitamin E are widely known, less widely known is the fact that Vitamin E is a complex of many constituents broken into two groups: tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) and tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta). And while alpha tocopherol is the form most commonly marketed as Vitamin E, the full spectrum of both tocoperols and tocotrienols are required for optimal assimilation.

    The super-antioxidant tocotrienols are particularly important for optimal health. These natural antioxidants act as free radical scavengers and are believed to play a protective role in cellular aging, atherosclerosis, cancer, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease.

    Researchers now believe that the tocopherols and tocotrienols together provide constituents that help limit damage during a heart attack.

    RPO not only supplies fatty acids essential for proper growth and development, but it is packed with an assortment of vitamins, antioxidants and other phytonutrients important for good health.

    For instance, the red colour comes from carotenes such as beta-carotene and lycopene – the same nutrients that give tomatoes and carrots and other fruits and vegetables their rich red and orange colours.

    Carotenes are valuable nutrients and powerful antioxidants. They are also important because the body can convert them into Vitamin A, an essential nutrient.

    Vitamin A deficiency can cause blindness, weaken bones, lower immunity and adversely affect learning ability and mental function.

    “Vitamin A is only found in animal foods. Such foods are too expensive for many people. Carotenes in fruits and vegetables can supply the needed Vitamin A if an adequate amount of fat is also consumed. Carotenes require fat for conversion into Vitamin A. Unfortunately, those who cannot afford animal products often do not eat much fat either.

    Additional reports, Better Health News Journal, US.

    To be concluded next week.

  • NIFOR warns against palm oil adulteration

    NIFOR warns against palm oil adulteration

    The Director of Research, Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Dr Celestine Ikuenobe, has warned against adulteration of palm oil.

    Ikuenobe, who gave the warning in Calabar, the Cross River State capital at a workshop for palm oil farmers, said adulteration is risky to consumers

    The director decried the adulteration of palm oil with chemicals used in dyeing of clothes, saying it is unsafe for human consumption.

    He said that unless such unwholesome practices were checked, a major health disaster might occur in the country.

    According to him, the adulteration is not only in palm oil, but also in palm seedlings sold to farmers.

    “The palm oil supplied to the Nigerian markets and the diaspora is often adulterated with dye chemicals, which make such oil unsafe for human consumption.

    “This act is unacceptable and unless something drastic is done, a health disaster might result in the country.

    “Because of the low palm oil production in the country, we contribute nothing to the international global palm oil supply and all these factors are responsible for the low palm oil production in the country”, he said.

    Ikuenobe called on farmers not to patronise people who offered them seedlings at a cheaper price but should instead, buy from the ministry of agriculture in the states.

    He urged cooperative societies, farmers and growers, to interface with Solidaridad and states’ ministry of agriculture , to access loan and learn best production practices to enhance their oil production.

     

  • Stabilizing palm oil industry through importation

    Stabilizing palm oil industry through importation

    As early as 1901, Nigeria was producing all palm oil sold in the world market and it was a dominant source of foreign exchange earnings.

    Up until the 60s, Nigeria was the world’s largest producer of palm oil accounting for 43 percent of global palm oil production. But due to over-reliance on traditional production methods, excessive tapping of palm tree for palm wine, break up attempt in 1967-70 which was actually fought in areas where palm activities were predominant, Nigeria’s ability to meet up with the global rise in demand was curtailed.

    Though production was increasing during that period, it was not increased at a rate that could meet up with rising global demand and consumption.

    Historically, Nigeria is largely an agrarian society despite lack of modern farm implements which undermined the potential for large-scale production. Agriculture was the mainstay of the economy during the pre-colonial and the colonial period.

    Nigeria emerged in the first decade of her independence as a leading exporter of many major agricultural commodities. Nigeria was a leading exporter of palm kernel, and largest producer and exporter of palm oil. It was also the second largest producer of cocoa in the world. During that time, smallholder farmers collectively produced 90 percent of the food needs and 70 percent of Nigeria’s export earnings — a dominant share of the
    Country’s GDP.
    However, in 1956 crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity. This paved the way for the gradual neglect of agriculture by successive governments and the civil war which began in 1967 and lasted till 1970 did a major damage to the palm oil sector of the economy. The war predominantly took place in Eastern Nigeria which was the seat of oil palm plantations. The oil palm belt includes the states of Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Eboniyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Imo and Rivers.
    In the 70s, Crude oil became the dominant source of revenue while agricultural production nose-dived considerably. From over 60 percent in the late 60s, the contribution of agriculture to the GDP plummeted to 22.2 percent in the 80s. Recent data put the contribution of agriculture to the country GDP at 42 percent. Many farmers engage in farming at subsistence level.
    The first ban on importation of vegetable oil was implemented in1986. In 1995, there was replacement of existing ban with high import duty by the federal government.
    In year 2002 – 2008 federal government again imposed a total ban on import of vegetable oil.

    This in turn has contributed to food insufficiency and subsequently led to importation of food to supplement local production. Nigeria has also lost its place in agricultural exports even in area it once dominated. In palm oil supply, Nigeria now produces a meager 1.7 percent 34 of total world production which is inadequate for local consumption which is put at about 2.7 percent. Malaysia, a country Nigeria gave palm oil seedlings to, has overtaken Nigeria as one of the largest producers and leading exporters of palm oil in the world. Malaysia and Indonesia produce 83 percent of total world production of palm oil.

    The war destroyed almost all of the oil palm plantations and dispersed the small land holders of oil palm, who till date, accounts for 80.0% of the oil palm produced locally. The war though ended but left behind a legacy of crippled oil palm industry, which has remained in a state of comatose till date.
    Today, from being the largest producer of oil palm, Nigeria is now a net importer of palm oil. According to IndexMundi, a data portal, the domestic palm oil produced totaled 930,000 MT in 2014.

    The consumption of palm oil in Nigeria amounts to 2.0 million MT per annum.

    The official figures states that the shortage in oil palm industry is estimated to be around 1,070,000 MT annually. This poses a very precarious situation for the manufacturing sector that depends largely on CPO as a major source of raw material. If this shortage is not filled with importation of high quality food grade palm oil, the economy will loose further investment in the manufacturing sector as companies would shot down and relocate their business outside the country, like it happened in the past.

    However, analysts estimate that the major importers of crude palm oil (CPO); Nigeria and Benin Republic, imports 450,000MT and 470,000MT of palm oil per annum, respectively. Sources claim that most of Benin Republic’s CPO imports find their way into Nigeria through informal channels as Benin exports close to 390,000 MT of palm oil annually. Thus, actual shortage of CPO could be as high as 940,000 MT if the exports from Benin Republic are taken into consideration.

    It is pertinent to note that majority of companies operating in Nigeria import from the ECOWAS states at zero duty. The level of production in the ECOWAS states is not high enough to support the quantity CPO imported in those state, but rather, some companies are importing through the ECOWAS states and bringing it in through informal channels without paying any duty to government. More than 50percent of total import in Nigeria is from ECOWAS at zero duty. These are areas that the government must turn its search light on to ensure all imported CPO pass through the right channel and the payment of the 35percent duty is paid to increase government revenue.

    Majority of palm oil is consumed by food industry and the remaining is used by the non-food industry. Foods like seasoning cubes, vegetable oil, biscuits, chips, margarines, shortenings, cereals, baked stuff, washing detergents and even cosmetics thrive on palm oil. Saddened by unavailability of sufficient oil palm in the Nigerian market, some industries have proactively announced strategic alliances to invest in oil palm plantations.

    Nigeria today produces only 1.7% of the world’s consumption of palm oil which is insufficient to meet its domestic consumption which stands at 2.7%. Thus, the question of net exports doesn’t arise; however, paradoxically, about 20.0% of the oil palm produced domestically is considered of high quality and clears all the seventeen tests for being an exportable commodity.

    Of course, the federal government is striving to sustain the crude palm oil industry of the country but the country need to have a stable economy and survival in the palm oil industry. In 2006, the federal government put a ban on the importation of vegetable and palm oil into the country to encourage the plantation of palm trees and oil refineries in other to boost the production of palm oil.

    The ban had an effect; Local production was unable to meet the quantity as well as quality requirements of the industry leading to scarcity of raw materials and inflation, Large estate in the palm oil plantations and output in Nigeria which is the only category producing palm oil used by the food industry  produced 80,000tons annually which is only 10% of local production and the overall domestic oil production was 1.35mn tones ,the consumption demand was 2.25mn tones resulting in a shortfall of 900,000 tones.

    Also the economy felt the impact as there was inadequate supply of palm oil, desperate food producers’ use non quality palm oil thereby jeopardizing public health and safety, the future industrial growth was threatened because palm oil was and is one of the widely used raw material and migration of industries and investments in Nigeria to other neighboring countries.

    Due to the resultant effect of the shortfall, over 11 companies were out of production in 2009 due to lack of palm oil input.

    So as the low production and high demand for the product both domestic and industrial needs continue to generate much agitation, importation is inevitable for the sustenance of the little pride of the country’s industrial image and in 2009 the government removed the ban with 35% tariff on the importation of palm oil into Nigeria.

    For Nigeria to meet the shortfall in local usage of crude palm oil and be self sufficient, Nigeria needs a total plantation of 300, 000 hectares of land. This no doubt is huge and requires the support of government through its Ministry of Agriculture by providing suitable and adequate land for willing investors to invest in large estate plantations in the country.

    The road to being self-sufficient is a long one as a whopping $10billion will be required and a minimum of 20 years of palm tree planting at a very large scaleand after 20 years demand will be much more than this, so investment needed for plantation need to be much higher and at the same time government need to allocate that much land for plantation which we are not seeing happening.

    It is important for Nigerian Government to realize that local prices are much higher because of high reliance on local plantation. These high prices are passed on to the consumer and are being cheated. And for now, importation of palm oil serves, as the best alternative to the low quantity produced in the country pending the development of large estate plantations.

    Samuel Adetola and Investment analyst is based in Lagos.

     

  • Palm oil: Stakeholders threaten showdown over 75% waivers

    Palm oil: Stakeholders threaten showdown over 75% waivers

    Stakeholders in the  palm oil sector are set   for a major showdown with the Federal Government over the latter 75 per cent duty waiver granted to importers of crude palm oil, especially operators in the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

    Industry source revealed that consultations are ongoing among the stakeholders, such as National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN); Vegetable and Edible Oil Producers Association of Nigeria (VEOPAN), Vegetable & Edible Oil Sector of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and  Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria (POFON).

    An operator, who craved for anonimity, said the Councils of the associations would meet onn the issue.

    The operator said the 75 per cent waiver could best be described as nailing the coffin of the oil palm economy and burying it.

    Recently, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, lamented that Nigeria loses at least N20 billion yeary due to the importation of palm oil.

    The CBN governor, who was addressing the management of PZ Wilmer after a tour of the oil palm plantation, said: ”This country is losing N20 billion by the 75 per cent waiver given to people who import palm oil into Nigeria. We will work very hard to stop that because we need our revenue in our coffers.”

    President of the NPPAN, Henry Olatujoye, said: “To me, the owners of the Lekki FTZ are out to kill Nigeria’s effort to develop our palm oil industries and they are treating us like goats. Give the goat a green grass and you have your way. This has to stop immediately. We are appealing to the government to immediately remove that clause from the Act and close the Lekki FTZ with a view to review the activities of the companies operating in the Zone.”