Bakpris Ventures is a palm-oil processor in Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana. We press every litre of Pukka palm oil without colouring agents, preservatives, or additives of any kind. The deep orange-red colour of our zomi comes entirely from natural beta-carotene in the ripe oil-palm fruit.
We write this guide because most buyers cannot tell dyed oil from genuine zomi by looking at it on the shelf. According to the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority's 2023 sampling study, 60.8% of palm oil on sale in Greater Accra failed tests for prohibited dyes including Sudan IV — the highest regional failure rate in the country. Certain Accra markets, including Dome and Mallam Atta, recorded 100% non-compliance. (GhanaWeb)
Sudan IV is an industrial synthetic dye — banned from all food products by Ghana's FDA and international food authorities. It has no nutritional value and no place in your food. Processors add it to pale, watery, or diluted oil to mimic the deep colour of naturally carotene-rich zomi. It has no smell and does not change the taste — so without these checks, you have no way to know.
6 checks before you cook with any red oil.
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Check the colour carefully.
Natural zomi is a warm, deep orange-amber — think thick tomato passata with a slightly golden cast. Dyed palm oil tends toward a vivid, almost neon fire-engine red. If the colour looks too bright or too uniform, that is a warning sign. Pure zomi also has visible depth and a slightly thick texture; watery, bright-red oil is suspicious.
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Run the water test.
Add a teaspoon of the oil to a glass of water and stir gently. Sudan IV is hydrophobic — it does not mix with water but concentrates at the oil–water interface, leaving a vivid pink or red ring or stain on the surface. Natural beta-carotene disperses into the oil phase and does not leave a red tinge on the water. A clear pink ring is a strong warning sign. Note: this is a practical field indicator, not a laboratory test — a positive result warrants caution, not a certainty.
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Smell it before you use it.
Genuine zomi has a characteristic warm, earthy, nutty aroma from the roasted fruit. It is distinctly recognisable. If the oil has no smell, smells chemical, or smells musty, that is a concern. Dyed oil is often made from low-quality or old oil that lacks the natural aroma — the dye is added to compensate for the appearance but cannot fake the scent.
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Test with white paper or cloth.
Rub a small amount of the oil onto white paper or white cloth and let it dry. Natural palm oil leaves an orange-yellow stain that fades to a light yellow as it dries. Dyed oil leaves a vivid, lasting red stain because the Sudan IV dye is a stable pigment that does not break down or fade at room temperature. A vivid red residue after drying is a strong indicator of adulteration.
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Check the price.
Genuine, unadulterated zomi costs more to produce — selected ripe fruit, careful steam-cooking, and natural settling all take time and labour. Oil that is priced significantly below the market rate for proper zomi is often a warning sign. Legitimate processors cannot sell quality oil at the price of adulterated product and remain profitable. If the price looks too good, ask why.
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Buy from a named source.
Unlabelled jerry cans or generic containers without a named producer are higher risk. A labelled product from an identified business — one you can call, WhatsApp, or trace — means the producer stands behind the oil. Ask questions: Where is it processed? Is it tested? Can you visit? Producers with nothing to hide will answer. Producers with something to hide usually do not.
What exactly is Sudan IV?
Sudan IV (also known as Oil Red B or Solvent Red 24) is a synthetic azo dye manufactured for industrial use — it is used to colour petroleum products and mechanical lubricants. It is not a food ingredient. It has never been approved for use in food anywhere in the world.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies Sudan IV as Group 3 — "not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity in humans" due to insufficient human data. However, animal studies show genotoxicity and carcinogenicity, and the precautionary principle applied by food authorities worldwide means any level of Sudan IV in food is a regulatory violation. (IARC via Wikipedia)
Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority prohibits Sudan IV in all food products and conducts periodic market sampling to detect violations. The 2023 sampling study found that Greater Accra had the worst compliance rate nationally — 60.8% of samples tested positive. This is not a marginal problem; it is widespread.
Pukka Palm Oil — nothing added, ever.
Every litre of Pukka zomi is pressed from selected, fully ripe oil-palm fruit at our Koforidua mill and bottled without dyes, preservatives, or any other additives. The colour is real — from natural beta-carotene in the fruit. The aroma is real — from the traditional roasting and pressing process. Nothing is added to enhance appearance or extend shelf life artificially.
Read more about our purity guarantee →