Government confiscates 18,000 liters of counterfeit cooking oil: dangers they pose and how to spot them

The hazards of ingesting counterfeit edible oils go beyond personal health issues to include public health and financial ramifications.According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, 18,000 litres of counterfeit edible oil have been seized by the authorities in Rajasthan. Ajmer's medical and health department confiscated the counterfeit oil that included copies of well-known brand labels."Duplicate labels of different well-known brands were used to prepare the fake cooking oil by misbranding these items and adulterating them," the department tweeted.According to Dr. Sudeep Khanna, a senior consultant gastroenterology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, counterfeit or contaminated items masquerading as real edible oils are known as fake edible oils. These imitation cooking oils are frequently created by mixing inexpensive oils with the desired oil or by utilizing dangerous, inedible ingredients.Adulteration is the process of mixing less expensive oils, like soybean or palm oil, with more expensive oils, like avocado or olive oil.Using artificial flavoring and coloring to cover up the oil's altered composition or lower quality is another popular technique.Using old, rotten oils that have been reprocessed and deodorized to hide their poor quality is another deceptive practice.

In an exchange, Dr. Khanna stated, "These manipulations not only mislead customers, but they can also jeopardize the safety and nutritional value of the original product."What health effects might phony cooking oils have? According to Dr. Khanna, consuming bogus edible oils can have a number of negative health impacts. These oils frequently include dangerous ingredients like trans fats, which are linked to higher risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, contaminated oils may contain hazardous substances like heavy metals, pesticide residues, or industrial chemicals, which can harm the immune system, cause neurological problems, damage the liver and kidneys, or cause other health problems. Fake oils can deprive the body of vital nutrients required for preserving cellular integrity, lowering inflammation, and promoting metabolic processes since they lack key fatty acids and antioxidants. Prolonged ingestion might cause major medical complications and aggravate long-term health problems.According to Dr. Khanna, the dangers of using phony cooking oils go beyond personal health issues to include public health and financial ramifications.

Treating illnesses connected to these contaminated products may put more strain on public health systems.Economically, counterfeit oils erode consumer confidence, harm the standing of genuine brands, and cost real producers money. Moreover, the existence of fake oils has the potential to change market dynamics and make it difficult for customers to make wise decisions. According to Dr. Khanna, regulatory agencies also struggle to keep an eye on and stop the proliferation of these phony products.