In Pakistan, around 30% of edible oil consumed annually — over 4.5 million tonnes — is loose, unbranded oil, mostly found in semi-urban and rural markets. While the low price makes it affordable for millions, experts warn that this “cheap” choice is a silent health bomb, loaded with dangerous chemicals and impurities.

Loose oil, sold in bulk without packaging or labelling, is often contaminated with toxins, pesticides, and biological impurities, making it a direct contributor to cardiovascular diseases, strokes, brain disorders, liver damage, and even cancer.

Why Loose Oil Is So Dangerous

Unlike branded oils that undergo refining, deodorisation, and filtration, loose oil is produced in unsanitary conditions. It is usually stored in unsterilised containers, transported in unsafe ways, and lacks essential nutrients such as vitamins A and D.

Key health risks of loose oil include:

  • High trans fats → Raise LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower HDL (good cholesterol)
  • Oxidised lipids → Linked to heart disease and brain disorders
  • Pesticide & aflatoxin residues → Cause liver damage and cancer
  • Carcinogens like acrylamide & PAHs → Produced when oil is reheated, common in South Asian cooking

The Price Gap: Cheap Oil, Costly Health

  • Loose oil: Rs 1,000 – 1,500 per 5 litres
  • Branded refined oil: Around Rs 2,700 per 5 litres

Though cheaper, the hidden health cost of loose oil is massive, contributing to rising heart disease and cancer rates in Pakistan.

Regulatory Push: Time to End the Loose Oil Market

Experts, regulators, and academics recently met under Nutrition International (NI) to push for regulation. Key recommendations included:

  • Complete ban on commercial sale of loose oils
  • Mandatory sealed packaging with batch numbers and traceability
  • Licensing and registration for wholesalers, distributors, and small producers
  • Adoption of Codex standards for cold-pressed oils (mustard, sesame, sunflower, etc.)
  • Joint inspection teams to monitor inter-provincial trade and stop smuggling of substandard oils

Expert Warnings

  • Dr. Hasan Orooj (NI Consultant): Sindh has 33 loose oil mills, most in Karachi. Samples from Sindh and Punjab failed health tests, unlike imported Iranian oil.
  • Dr. S. M. Ghufran Saeed (Karachi University): Loose oils often adulterated with recycled frying oils or industrial fats — a deadly cocktail.
  • Punjab Food Authority (PFA): Suggested a 3-month transition period, after which unregulated loose oil sales should be banned.

Pakistan at a Crossroads

Pakistan is the 8th largest consumer of edible oil in the world, with an annual per capita consumption of 22 kg. Without urgent regulation, millions will remain at risk from toxic, unregulated oils.

The consensus is clear: loose oil must be phased out, and only sealed, traceable, and safe oils should be allowed in the market.