Published: 12:52 AM, 10 July 2026
Banning Sale of Edible Oil in Unhygienic Drums Imperative
The use of edible oil is nearly universal in Bangladesh. Its contribution to addressing nutritional deficiencies and improving public health is undeniable. Yet, a common sight in our local markets is open edible oil being sold in plastic drums. What is deeply alarming is that these drums are originally manufactured to store and transport various industrial chemicals. These non-food-grade, unhygienic, and contaminated containers are being repurposed to distribute edible oil. The repeated use of these chemical drums poses a severe risk of toxicity, turning a daily dietary staple into a serious health hazard for consumers.
Marketing loose edible oil in these drums threatens public health and stands as a major roadblock to implementing food safety laws and regulations, including the "Edible Oil Vitamin A Fortification Act, 2013." A study conducted by icddr,b revealed a shocking reality: 59% of loose edible oil samples in the market lacked Vitamin A entirely. Furthermore, one-third of the samples contained Vitamin A levels far below the required threshold, and a meager 7% complied with the government's minimum quality standards. Addressing this crisis urgently requires robust legal action and widespread awareness.
According to the Act, marketing edible oil without the official fortification logo or using non-food-grade packaging made of harmful materials is a punishable offense. In reality, however, compliance is almost non-existent. Some unscrupulous traders continue to bypass the law with impunity. To curb this practice, the Ministry of Industries has previously issued several executive orders. The directive issued on June 2, 2022, set strict deadlines: July 31, 2022, for phasing out loose soybean oil, and December 31, 2022, for loose palm oil. Despite these deadlines passing years ago, enforcement remains invisible. While the Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection occasionally conducts raids to halt the sale of loose oil, the market invariably relapses into its old ways just days later.
Given these circumstances, prioritizing public health by completely banning loose edible oil in unhygienic drums is an absolute necessity. It is critical to transition from chemical drums to safe, food-grade bottles, plastic foils, and pouch packs.
The rationale behind this is clear: open oil is highly susceptible to adulteration, and tracing the exact point of contamination is nearly impossible, destroying any chance of supply chain accountability. Proper packaging is also vital to preserve the added Vitamin A. Furthermore, because oil refineries ship these old drums without any labels or traceability data, tracking the source of the oil becomes impossible, crippling the effective enforcement of regulations.
To permanently eliminate the use of these hazardous drums, several key steps must be taken. The government must strictly implement existing laws and encourage oil producers and refineries to switch to food-grade packaging. Also, providing policy incentives to compliant companies could accelerate this transition. In addition, government bodies, public health experts, civil society, public representatives, media, and development partners must collaborate to educate consumers about the critical health risks of consuming unsafe, loose oil. Relevant government departments must strictly monitor and evaluate whether the Vitamin A fortification process is being carried out correctly at the production level.
Low-income communities are the primary consumers of this loose oil. This vitamin-deficient, contaminated oil offers them no nourishment; instead, the resulting health complications will trap them in financial distress due to catastrophic medical expenses. To build a healthy and productive nation, the authorities must act without further delay. Turning a blind eye to this silent health crisis is no longer an option.
Author: Mashiat Abedin, Coordinator, PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress). Email: [email protected]
>>Mashiat Abedin, AA
