Quality of palm oil still unclear

It is thus a co-product of palm olein. It is always traded at a discount to palm oil and palm olein; making it a cost effective ingredient in several applications. The physical characteristics of palm stearin differ significantly from those of palm oil and it is available in a wider range of melting points and iodine values. Palm stearin is a very useful source of fully natural hard fatty component for products such as shortening and pastry and bakery margarines.

Quality Control Manager IFFCO, Zahid Hussain, said that IFFCO had only provided container for the said disputed oil free of cost. He said, “We at IFFCO are committed to produce and deliver safe and legal products with consistent quality, meeting customer expectations through continuous improvement of systems by selecting and monitoring objectives at relevant level within the organization.”

Special Health Secretary, Dr Abdul Majid, told the newsmen that Customs officials had seized the said RBD palm oil in 1998, which was reported contaminated. The issue is still unsolved, however, the concerned ministry is striving to settle it, he said and added that laboratory reports of new samples would be issued after Eidul Fitr.