Abstract
Mandatory food labeling helps Nigerien consumers to understand the origin, identity and nutritional profile of a product. So, what compliance criteria apply to vegetable oils sold on the market? The aim of this study was to assess the compliance of several edible oils available in Niger with international and local standards for labeling pre-packaged foods and refined edible oils respectively. This is a cross-sectional survey, which targeted edible oils packed in different retail containers. An inventory of these oils was carried out in 80 retail stores. Relevant data were extracted from the labels and entered into an electronic database for conformity assessment against the provisions of the reference standards. A total of 49 brands of edible oil were identified as palm oil (53.06%), soybean oil (20.41%), sunflower oil (2.04%), peanut oil (2.04%), and the remaining brands as unknown types of oil (22.45%). The assessment for conformity showed that the 37(97.36%) brands of edible oil comply with the mandatory labeling requirements as set out in CODEX STAN 1-1985. Of the 26 brands of edible oil listed as palm oils, 15 had a fortified label for vitamin A, of which 10 were from African countries and the other 5 were from Asian countries. Globally, our results revealed the diversity of edible oils and their countries of origin, as well as the non-compliance of certain brands with labeling standards. Though, control bodies in Niger must strengthen control measures to guarantee the safety and quality of imported edible oils.