Coconut oil is a common household essential in India, valued for its versatility in cooking, skincare, and haircare. However, a recent video has raised alarm among consumers, prompting many to question the authenticity of the products they use. Is the coconut oil we rely on daily really as pure as the labels suggest?
In the video that has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter), a woman is seen standing in a grocery store holding a bottle of coconut oil. On the front, the label reads, “With 100% pure coconut oil.” But when she turns it around, the ingredient list tells a different story: it mentions not just coconut oil but also vegetable oil.
“How is it 100% pure coconut oil?” she asks in the clip. She goes on to add, “Ye hai aapki brands – packaging front ye hoti hai aur jab aap ingredients check karte ho toh kahani bilkul badal jati hai (These are your brands – the front of the packaging says one thing but when you check the ingredients, the story completely changes).”
The video was shared with the caption: “Parachute 100% pure coconut oil but………. Is she reading the labels wrong? or is there some technical truth in what the brand claims?”
There were many who responded. A man who runs a coconut oil production facility, Sri Krishna Mills Co., mentioned what it actually costs to make pure coconut oil and why smaller manufacturers struggle to compete with big brands.
He said, “I have a coconut oil production facility – set up more than 110 years back – we pride ourselves for maintaining the quality for over a century but find it very difficult to compete in the market where coconut oil is sold at below the conversion cost – leave aside rest of the expenses like sorting – packing.”
He further explained that the current price of copra (the dried kernel of the coconut used to make oil) is around Rs 240 per kg. “The conversion rate (roughly) is 65 per cent – 1000 kgs of Copra gives you 650 litres of pure coconut oil. Price per litre works out to Rs 370. Add all our expenses (except selling & marketing), it works out Rs 390-400 per litre then keep a small profit margin for the stakeholders,” he wrote. He also said that if someone is selling the oil for less than this amount, “you can understand what’s happening,” referring to possible compromises in quality.
There were many who shared their thoughts.
A user commented, “I have nothing to do with coconut oil production, but I feel the pain in every word mentioned here. I guess it’s the truth of every small-scale manufacturer.”
Another said, “Why don’t you sell direct to consumer? Explain your process and how you are different from these mega brands. There are plenty of people like me who are happy to pay way more for a quality product.”
Also Read: Kerala Court Issues Arrest Warrant Against Ramdev Over Alleged Misleading Advertisements https://www.vibesofindia.com/kerala-court-issues-arrest-warrant-against-ramdev-over-alleged-misleading-advertisements/
