Dhaka, Feb. 26 -- A research team from Dhaka University has detected presence of mercury in crude edible oil, posing a significant health risk to consumers.

The findings were revealed on Wednesday at a seminar titled 'Fortified Edible Oils: Enhancing Health and Nutrition for a Better Future,' jointly organised by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), held at BFSA head office in the city.

Dr Najma Shaheen, former director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science at Dhaka University, disclosed that mercury contamination was found in crude oil samples and could not be eliminated through the refining process.

"The presence of mercury has been observed in crude oil tests, an...