Palm Oil Contamination allegation: Thorough Investigation Needed

The local palm oil industry has been hit by two major scandals in recent times, which scandals pose a risk to the health of consumers, subsequently, bad for palm oil patronage. The primary issue here is the health of consumers; palm oil dealers’ financial concerns are secondary, though legitimate. The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) confirmed the first allegation and proceeded to sanction the offending operators. In the second issue however, a week after a group of university students publicized their research report that a cross section of palm oil operators add centipedes to the oil during production, for colour and taste, the  FDA has refuted the claim, alongside strong protests from the industry. There clearly are credibility issues that must not be ignored.

A spokesperson for the FDA indicated that the allegation is being investigated, yet she declared her partiality by rubbishing the finding. She could not concede that anyone would include centipede in palm oil, for any reason. Yes, the researchers’ allegation is serious and needs thorough investigation. I am concerned that the FDA would refute an allegation it is still investigating. Apparently, the report came from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Research ethics require that only legitimate reports are shared with the community. Doubtful reports can be contested; therefore, the traders are right in challenging the university to refute or substantiate the claim. One would expect the same objective stance from the FDA.

Fact is that the FDA is not the most credible and reliable agency for food safety in spite of its national mandate. A while ago, when a researcher alerted the public to the health hazards of plastics, a spokesperson from the Agency refuted the allegations, claiming that the harm is not as high as the researcher claimed. Yet, the harmful effects of Biphemol are well reported by researchers globally. Communities interested in human safety now manufacture biodegradable plastics, some of which are imported into the country. The mandate of the FDA notwithstanding, food products of questionable safety are constantly on Ghanaian market shelves. The report that centipedes are added to palm oil is alarming but not surprising.

Every consumer of Ghanaian palm oil is interested in this issue; if some producers could add bad chemicals to palm oil for colour, what prevents others from adding centipedes to the product for the same effect? Some traders and manufacturers have completely written off ethics and morality from their business catalogues. A cross-section of farmers in the country adds carbide to food products to expedite the ripening process. Such products can make consumers sick or die. Consumers are ill-informed about the potential health risks of such contaminated food products. That such contaminated products are rejected by the international market alerts the local consumer that food in the country is not safe. Ironically, outsiders will not eat it, but it is ok to sell the contaminated products to Ghanaians.

Much as I sympathize with the palm oil manufacturers and retailers, I prioritize food and human safety. It might just be that a cross section of traders is indulging in business malpractice. It could also be true that an unscrupulous competitor, local or international, desires to eliminate all competition and pave the way for a new palm oil product. Businesses engage in such unethical behavior. In the same manner, some researchers breach research ethics and disseminate false information. All the horrible scenarios I have painted above are highly possible in a country which is clearly averse to quality. Therefore, this is not the time for threats; it is time for proper investigation.

All the agencies involved have so much at stake: KNUST is a reputable research Institution which ought to abide by research ethics. It is expected to conduct legitimate research and report credible outcomes. Research from both staff and students must be above reproach. KNUST risks jeopardizing its research reputation, locally and internationally, if it allowed false reports to be published or if it its agencies compromised research ethics in any way. The Institution must spearhead the investigation and muster the intellectual integrity to confirm the authenticity or falsehood of the report in question. Should the report be found to be false, the researchers involved must be appropriately sanctioned by the Institution and its collaborators.

The FDA must strive for public confidence and live up to its mandate through impartial investigation of the allegation. It should identify the researchers and work to get the truth. If it proved beyond all doubt that the researchers lied, it must allay the fears of consumers and together with the traders, sue the offenders for defaming the traders, raising false alarm and discrediting a legitimate market product. But if the investigators reported a business malpractice, the FBA should offer a public apology and ban the offenders from trading in any food product. The Association would also apologize to the public, but it ought to bear in mind that it would do irreparable damage to its Association should the accusation be true. If it should happen that a business competitor raised the false alarm in a perverse attempt to impose a new product on consumers, the said product should be banned from the Ghanaian market for good.

Thorough investigation is the only route through which the allegation of contaminated palm oil on the market could be completely resolved. The final consumer must be kept informed of the resolution process. Nothing should be left unexplained. All contending stakeholders must provide irrefutable evidence to legitimize their claim. For the sake of the ordinary Ghanaian consumer who could suffer serious health effects for using the product, I hope the truth and nothing but the truth be told. The onus of responsibility lies on KNUST, FDA and the aggrieved Palm oil manufacturer and retailers.