World Health Day: Reused cooking oil as preventable health risk

As the world marks World Health Day on 7th April, Muenzer Kenya is drawing attention to a largely overlooked public health issue: the repeated use of cooking oil in households and informal food preparation.

In many cases, cooking oil is reheated several times for economic reasons. However, when oil is exposed to high temperatures repeatedly, its chemical structure changes. This process can lead to the formation of harmful compounds that are associated with increased risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other serious health conditions.

“World Health Day is a reminder that health risks often start with everyday practices,” says Olivier Meganck, CEO of Muenzer Kenya. “Repeatedly using the same cooking oil may seem harmless, but over time it can become a real health concern. Used cooking oil should therefore not stay in the food chain.”

Everyday practice with long-term impact

The relevance of this issue becomes clear in the broader health context. Non-communicable diseases already account for a significant share of deaths in Kenya, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Reducing avoidable exposure to harmful substances in daily life is therefore essential.

A recent study conducted in Kenya in collaboration with Prof. Mohamed Karama highlights a key challenge: While most respondents are aware that reusing cooking oil can affect health, many still continue to use it repeatedly.

The findings show that a considerable share of households and food operators do not regularly replace cooking oil, often relying on visible signs such as colour or smoke. However: By that point, the oil may already be significantly degraded.

Awareness must lead to behaviour change

For Muenzer Kenya, the issue is not only about awareness, but about practical behaviour. “Knowing that reused cooking oil can be harmful is not enough,” Meganck explains. “What matters is acting on that knowledge – using oil responsibly and removing it from use before it becomes degraded.”

The company emphasises that once cooking oil has been used, it should no longer be used for food preparation. Instead, it should be collected and managed safely.

Keeping used cooking oil out of the food chain

Used cooking oil remains a valuable resource when handled correctly. Through proper collection systems like Muenzer’s, it can be converted into sustainable biodiesel instead of posing a risk to human health or the environment. Muenzer Kenya therefore calls for:

• greater public awareness of the risks linked to repeated heating of oil,
• clearer guidance for households and food vendors, and
• improved collection and disposal systems for used cooking oil.

On World Health Day, the message is clear: Keeping degraded cooking oil out of the food chain is a simple but important step towards protecting public health.