Quality analysis of Local and Imported Vegetable Oil Brands Consumed in Hossaena Town, Ethiopia.
The present research work was conducted to determine the extent of cholesterol, acid value, and peroxide value from six vegetable oils (Tena soybean, Tena sun flower, Sunny soybean, sunny sunflower, Nigger and palm oil) which are commercially available at Hossana markets. Cholesterol content were estimated spectrochemically using ultra violet visible spectrophotometer; whereas acid and peroxide values titrimetrically using potassium hydroxide (KOH) and sodium thiosulfate respectively. Results of analysis revealed that the cholesterol contents varied from 25.6 ± 0.75 to 217.4 ± 0.32 mg/L corresponding with Nigger to Tena soybean oil. The acid and peroxide value contents among vegetable oil samples ranged from 0.523 ± 0.052 to 3.93 ± 0.076 mg KOH/g sample and 0.92 ± 0.015 to 3.2 ± 0.012 meq. Oxygen/Kg with respect to Tena sunflower and palm oil samples. Nigger and Palm oils have higher level of free fatty acids and rancidity which translates into decreased oil quality. The current research has been able to show that there is no cholesterol free oil in the market as opposed to what is argued on the vegetable oil brand labels. Therefore, companies producing and marketing vegetable oils are enjoined to desist from misleading the public by labeling their products as “cholesterol free”. They should indicate the amount of cholesterol, acid value and peroxide value present in the vegetable oil, no matter how small the quantity might be; as well as other ingredients through critical analysis.