VEGETABLE OIL, palm, 5l, HDPE jerrycan

Oils should be "sound and market quality" and "fit for human consumption".

The only authorised additive is the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT-E-321): max 75 mg per kg of oil.

The contaminant contents (heavy metals and pesticides) must comply with the maximum residue limits established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (codex stan 210-2003):

• lead (Pb): 0.1 mg/kg
• arsenic (As): 0.1 mg/kg

Since all oils have different densities, it is better to buy them by the litre (and not by weight). Indicative

weights/volumes (at 20ºC):

• palm oil: 890 g/l
• soybean oil: 921 g/l
• sunflower oil: 922 g/l
• rapeseed oil: 912 g/l

Primary packaging

• Must close with a screw-on cap
• Liquid-proof: no leakage under the pressure of 6 m high stacking up
• either 1 or 2 litres PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle of minimum 28.5 g (empty)
• or 5 litres HDPE (high density polyethylene) jerrycan of standard weight 144 g

Secondary packaging

Cardboard boxes of 12 or 15 bottles or 4 jerrycans

• double-corrugated, opaque cardboard boxes, closed with 50 mm tape suitable for tropical climates
• stackable to a height of 8 boxes for at least six months without collapsing

Bottles/jerrycans AND boxes must be marked (in legible characters) with:

• name (type) of the product
• month and year of fabrication
• expiry date
• content in litres
• manufacturer's name and address (and country)

Oils usually have a 1 year shelf life.

STORAGE

Follow the procedure QA-NFOS-SOP2 "Storage and stock management of food".

Preparing for storage

• Staple foods should be stored separately from therapeutic foods to prevent any risk of crosscontamination.
• Warehouses (walls, floor, etc.) should be given preventive treatment against insects and rodents before warehousing.
• It is essential to check that the roof is watertight before the rainy season.

Storage organization

• Away from direct sunlight
• On pallets arranged in 6 to 8 pallet islands
• Islands at least 1 m apart
• At least 0.5 m from the walls
• No more than 2 m high (= 6 to 8 boxes high, depending on the quality of the boxes)

Inventory monitoring

• Follow expiry dates.
• Any opened bottle should be used quickly (risk of oxidation).
• Warehouse ventilation should be controlled to minimize ambient humidity and the risk that piles of boxes might collapse
• Inventory should be regularly organized (every two weeks), looking for any leakage and inspecting warehouse to monitor anti-insect and anti-rodent prevention measures (bits of cardboard boxes make very comfortable nests for rodents!!!)