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Second SLSI test confirms all imported coconut oil consignments contaminated
The Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) yesterday said that the second test too had confirmed that consignments of coconut oil imported by three companies contained high aflatoxin levels.
The SLSI said that it usually took two samples from each consignment and they were contaminated. It said it had instructed the Customs to re-export the stocks.
Last week, it was revealed that the Health Ministry had detected 183,000 kilos of imported coconut oil containing very high levels of aflatoxin, a cancer causing substance. It was alleged that the Customs had released the consignments to the importers; however Customs said that they had only released the coconut oil to the stores of the importers.
The SLSI was compelled to test the oil again and the second test had confirmed that oil imported by Ali Brothers, Edirisinghe Edible Oils and Katana Refineries contain high aflatoxin levels.
On Sunday, doctors said that aflatoxin could be more carcinogenic to children than adults.