•Unbranded vegetable oils can be Nigeria’s emerging food poison

By Doris Obinna

When 42-year-old Mrs. Adebimpe John rushed her husband to the hospital after he collapsed during dinner, she never imagined the culprit would be the vegetable oil she had been cooking with for years.

“He had been complaining of chest pain and fatigue for weeks. We thought it was stress. But the doctor said his arteries were inflamed, and his blood showed signs of oxidative stress and food poisoning,” she disclosed.

The oil she had bought cheaply from a roadside vendor golden, unbranded, and sold in recycled containers was later linked to his food poisoning and cardiovascular complications. “I felt betrayed,” she said. “We were trying to save money, but it nearly cost us his life.”

Her story reflects a growing crisis. Across Nigeria, millions of households rely on unbranded edible oils, unaware of the grave risks. These oils are often poorly processed, lack essential micronutrients, and may trigger lipid peroxidation a reaction that produces toxic free radicals linked to cancer, hypertension, and organ damage.

This issue took centre stage at a one-day workshop in Lagos, organized by the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) in partnership with eHealth Africa under the Third-Party Advocacy Campaign (TPAC) project, with support from Global alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN.)

Nutritionists, public health experts, and policymakers gathered to raise the alarm on unsafe oils and demand urgent regulatory reforms.

According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, 67 percent of Nigerians consume unbranded oils, while only 31 percent of available oils are fortified with nutrients like vitamin A. This imbalance is fuelling widespread micronutrient deficiencies, particularly among children and vulnerable groups.

“Though cheaper, these oils pose long-term health risks,” warned President of the Dietitians Association of Nigeria, Prof.  Chinyere Afam-Anene. She explained that repeatedly used or abandoned oils undergo dangerous chemical changes, releasing toxic free radicals into the body. “Consumers have the right to know what they’re buying; expiry dates, nutritional content, and safety standards must be clear,” she added, calling on National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to clamp down on unlabelled and counterfeit products.

Why the market persists

Despite the dangers, unbranded oils remain popular. For many families struggling with inflation, affordability trumps safety. “When you’re choosing between feeding your children and buying branded oil, you go for what you can afford,” said Mercy, a Lagos mother.

Dr. Beatrice Oganah-Ikujenyo of Lagos State University of Education explained that while edible oils in Nigeria are commonly derived from legumes, melon seeds, soybeans, coconuts, and palm, many producers skip fortification to cut costs. “Vitamin A fortification is critical for vision, growth, and immunity,” she stressed, warning that even storage practices such as using open containers can expose oils to contamination from rodents, flies, and cockroaches.

“Shockingly, even some established brands fail to meet fortification standards. At a recent nutrition conference in Ghana, four popular oil brands were tested none contained vitamin A.”

Experts agree that stricter enforcement is essential. “NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) must ensure compliance with branding and fortification standards,” Prof. Afam-Anene urged.

Oganah-Ikujenyo added that many manufacturers produce both branded and unbranded oils, making regulatory oversight even more urgent. While Senior Programmes Officer at CS-SUNN, Kunle Ishola, emphasised that fortification must become central to Nigeria’s nutrition strategy, backed by public-private partnerships and government accountability.

Roles of media, consumers

Beyond regulation, public awareness is key. “Micronutrient deficiency is a silent crisis,” said Senior Communications Officer, CS-SUNN’s, Lilian Okafor.

She added that Journalists must tell stories that inform consumers and push policymakers to act.

For Adebimpe John, advocacy has become personal. She now shares her family’s experience in churches and community meetings. “If my story can help one family avoid the same mistake, then it’s worth it,” she said.

Experts advise Nigerians to always check for NAFDAC registration numbers, expiry dates, and fortification details before buying oil. Products sold in recycled or unmarked containers should be avoided. Consumers are also urged to report suspicious products to authorities. Nigeria faces a clear: choice continue allowing unsafe oils to dominate the market, or prioritize public health through stronger regulation, enforcement, and consumer education.

As Afam-Anene put it: “Food is not just fuel, it is medicine. But when wrongly chosen, it becomes poison.”