Key Update

As part of Operation Nalikera, the Food Safety Department launched a one-day district-wide inspection to curb the sale of fake coconut oil during Onam. During the drive, officials seized 1,965 liters of adulterated oil. At a godown in Cherumukku, Tirurangadi (Malappuram), they confiscated 735 liters of oil. Officials sent all samples to laboratories for further testing. The department initiated Operation Nalikera after receiving reports that traders were mixing coconut testa oil and white palm oil and selling it as pure coconut oil. The operation aims to stop such adulterated oil from entering the Onam market.

What is Coconut Testa Oil?

Manufacturers extract coconut testa oil from the grayish layer between the coconut shell and the kernel. Although it isn’t harmful to health, it does not qualify as genuine coconut oil. Typically, traders mix it with white palm oil and market it falsely as coconut oil. In the Cherumukku godown, officials found odorless oil, which they suspect to be coconut testa oil. The supply is believed to have originated from the Kozhikode area.

How to Identify Fake Coconut Oil at Home

According to Food Safety Officer M.N. Shamsiya, consumers can perform a simple home test:

1. Place a small quantity of coconut oil in the refrigerator.
2. After 45 minutes, take it out and check the consistency.
3. If it solidifies fully, it’s likely pure.
4. If some parts remain liquid, the oil may be adulterated.

For confirmation, authorities recommend lab testing. Even though coconut testa oil and white palm oil are not harmful on their own, selling them as pure coconut oil is illegal and a violation of food safety laws.

Source: Manoramaonline