Why is Laboratory Testing of Edible Oil Crucial?

Edible oils are a crucial part of our diet as it is not only used as cooking oil but also in food product formulation and manufacturing of cosmetic products and biodiesel fuel feedstock. It has high nutritional and economic values.

- Dr Saurabh Arora

Obtrusively, adulteration of edible oil has emerged as a major issue worldwide due to their increasing market demand and the potential profit. This is why it has become pivotal to monitor the purity and quality of edible oils to reduce the plethora of risks.

In the same wake,Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) from time to time holds a nationwide campaign against adulteration in edible oils (single oil as a constituent), trans-fatty acids and sale of Multi Source Edible Oils without proper labeling. Recently, a massive surveillance drive was carried out across the country with a total of 4431 surveillance samples of vegetable oils, multi-source edible oils, vanaspati etc.across 35 States/ UTs. In the same wake, the Commissioners of Food Safety in all States/UTs were directed to lift surveillance samples of these products in a staggered manner from the markets so that the sample base is wider and representative of all Food Business Operators (FBOs)/ Brands being sold therein.

The purpose of the survey was to assess the quality, safety and misbranding of the cooking oil sold in the market. During the campaign, all States/UTs Food Safety Departments carried out intensive surveillance to track down heavily upon the delinquent FBOs who may be found selling adulterated edible oils or loose edible oils.