ABSTRACT

The quality of crude palm oil sold in major markets in Enugu state was assessed. The objectives were to collect information on production, processing and storage of crude palm oil from sellers in the selected major markets, to determine the peroxide value, free fatty acid value, beta-carotene level and Deterioration of Bleachability index (DOBI) of crude palm oil. The study design employed cross sectional survey and experimental studies. A three-stage sampling technique was used in selection of the subjects (palm oil sellers). In the first stage, three local government areas were selected. In the second stage, one major market was selected from each of the local government areas and they include; Ogbete, Eke Agbani and Garki markets. In the third stage, nine (three from each market) oil sellers were identified and interviewed. Subsequently, nine oil samples were randomly selected (three from each market). The nine oil samples were subjected to the following analyses; peroxide value, Free Fatty Acid (FFA), Deterioration of Bleachability Index (DOBI) and Beta-carotene determination using standard methods. It was deduced that, majority (55.6%) of the oil sellers do not produce the oil themselves and 44.4% who produce the oil on their own, process their palm fruits traditionally within 2 to 5 days after harvest. In addition, 66.67% of the respondents do not add additives to the palm oil and all (100%) the respondents store their oil in plastic containers. The analytical result revealed that, the FFA and beta-carotene mean values ranged from 10.95 to 15.86mgKOH/g and 4086.56 to 4163.88mg/kg respectively. The free fatty acid (FFA) and beta-carotene levels were of real concern, as the oil samples from Ogbete, Eke Agbani and Garki markets did not comply with recommended levels of 3.5mgKOH/g and 500 –2000mg/kg respectively. The peroxide values and the Deterioration of Bleachability Index mean values range from 4.73 to 10.07Meq/kg and 2.52 to 3.72 respectively. All the samples investigated were in compliance with recommended levels regarding Peroxide Value and Deterioration of Bleachability Index, thus confirming the good oxidative stability and good bleaching property of the crude palm oil samples. The high FFA and beta-carotene values of the nine crude oil samples could be due to poor hygienic and storage practices hence, there is need to raise public awareness on the palm oil processing practices and hygiene.