DU research team finds mercury in crude edible oil

Dr. Najma Shaheen, former director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science at Dhaka University, on Wednesday said a research team of the university has detected the presence of mercury in crude edible oil, reports UNB.

Mercury found in crude edible oil cannot be removed even through refining processes. Dr. Shaheen said at a seminar titled "Fortified Edible Oils: Enhancing Health and Nutrition for a Better Future", organised by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

The research team tested various parameters of oil and found that the results for loose oil were highly inconsistent with the ideal standards, she said.

Besides, non-branded soybean oil was found to be mixed with other oils or impurities, based on the test results, she said.