World Health Day: Handling used cooking oil is also a matter of health

On the occasion of World Health Day on 7 April, Münzer is drawing attention to an often overlooked everyday issue: the handling of used cooking oil. Whether in private households or in the food service sector, cooking oil is frequently reheated multiple times or disposed of incorrectly. Yet the way it is handled affects not only environmental considerations, but also health.

When cooking oil becomes a risk

When cooking oil is repeatedly exposed to high temperatures, its chemical composition changes. This can lead to the formation of degradation products associated with health risks – particularly in relation to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other chronic conditions.

“Health does not begin in hospital, but in everyday life – including in the kitchen,” says Münzer Managing Director Ewald-Marco Münzer. “The way we handle cooking oil is a good example of how simple habits can have long-term consequences.”

An underestimated issue in the home

While awareness of healthy nutrition has increased significantly in recent years, the handling of used oil is often neglected. Common examples include reusing oil multiple times despite heavy use, mixing fresh oil with old, or disposing of it via the sink or residual waste.

The latter in particular presents an additional challenge: when cooking oil enters the drainage system, it can cause deposits, blockages, and long-term damage to infrastructure. At the same time, it pollutes waterways and complicates wastewater treatment.

Circular economy as part of the solution

For Münzer, the position is clear: used cooking oil is not waste, but a valuable raw material – provided it is collected correctly. “Used cooking oil should neither be reused nor disposed of via the sewage system, but returned to the energy cycle,” says Münzer. “In this way, it becomes a sustainable energy source rather than a health or environmental problem.”

Through professional collection, used cooking oil can be converted into biodiesel, making a direct contribution to CO₂ reduction in the transport sector.

Simple actions for everyday life

On World Health Day, Münzer encourages a more mindful approach to cooking oil:

• Avoid reusing cooking oil excessively
• Do not continue using oil that has been heavily heated or altered
• Collect used cooking oil separately and dispose of it correctly

“Small changes in everyday behaviour can have a significant impact – both for individual health and for the environment,” Münzer concludes.