Staff Correspondent:

A research team from Dhaka University has detected presence of mercury in crude edible oil, posing a significant health risk to consumers.

The findings were revealed on Wednesday at a seminar titled ‘Fortified Edible Oils: Enhancing Health and Nutrition for a Better Future,’ jointly organised by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), held at BFSA head office in the city.

Dr Najma Shaheen, former director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science at Dhaka University, disclosed that mercury contamination was found in crude oil samples and could not be eliminated through the refining process.

“The presence of mercury has been observed in crude oil tests, and unfortunately, it remains even after refining,” she said.

She further noted that the research team tested various quality parameters and found that the results for open, unbranded soybean oil were highly inconsistent with ideal safety standards.

“Based on our tests, it appears that non-branded soybean oil is often adulterated with other oils or impurities,” she added.

The seminar, held at the BFSA conference room, was attended by key stakeholders, including Mohammad Alim Akhtar Khan, Director General of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection.

Addressing the restaurant owners’ association, he urged them to commit publicly to avoiding loose oil in their establishments.

“Announce that you do not use loose oil in your restaurants. This will help consumers distinguish between safe and unsafe options,” he said.

He also recommended the establishment of a model upazila promoting fortified edible oil.

BFSA member Dr Mohammad Shoaib delivered the welcome adress while BFSA Chairman Zakaria chaired.

Zakaria focused on the severe health risks associated with unsafe edible oils, stating, “Every year, approximately 0.32 million people die from diseases related to edible oil consumption.”

He also expressed appreciation for GAIN’s efforts in organizing the seminar and thanked attendees for their participation.

Industries Joint Secretary Sultan Alam and Dr Rudaba Khandaker, Country Director of GAIN, attended as special guests.

Sultan Alam emphasised the need for greater public awareness, stating, “Oil consumption is one of the major contributors to health problems. The less we consume, the better for our health. We must increase awareness through social media and other platforms.”

Dr. Rudaba Khandaker called on authorities to take action based on scientific evidence.

“Youth and marginalised communities must be actively involved in these efforts to ensure proper coordination and long-term impact,” she said.