The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has warned residents against consuming or buying groundnut oil spilt from a fallen 33,000-litre tanker, citing the risk of contamination.

The agency said the oil, which spilt onto a public road, could have been exposed to dirt, dust, harmful microorganisms, fuel and other hazardous substances.

The General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, gave the warning in a statement on Thursday, expressing concern over people collecting the spilt oil.

“Groundnut oil spilt onto a public road can come into contact with dirt, dust, harmful microorganisms, fuel, and other hazardous substances. Even when the oil appears clean, its safety cannot be verified through visual inspection alone,” he said.

Solebo said consuming contaminated edible oil could cause foodborne illnesses and other adverse health effects, depending on the nature and extent of the contamination.

He added that “cooking or heating contaminated oil may not eliminate certain chemical hazards, potentially exposing consumers to further health risks.”

The LASCOPA chief urged residents to avoid collecting, purchasing or consuming edible oil recovered from accident scenes.

He also cautioned traders and distributors against reselling the products without proper safety assessments and clearance from the relevant authorities.

Solebo reiterated that access to safe products was a fundamental consumer right and urged residents to report suspected cases of unsafe food products to the agency.

Complaints can be submitted through LASCOPA’s social media accounts, @lascopa, by email at [email protected] or through its toll-free helpline on 080 0005 2726.