Archives of Current Research International

Artisanal cottonseed oil is widely consumed in Burkina Faso, yet its sanitary quality and production environment remain poorly controlled.

This cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted in 2009, evaluated both the production conditions based on the hygiene principles of the Codex Alimentarius and the main physicochemical parameters related to the quality of cottonseed oils from three artisanal units located in the industrial area of Kossodo in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). The 2009 data were reinterpreted in light of more recent national surveys (2020–2022) documenting persistent quality and safety issues in locally produced edible. The physicochemical tests (18 oil samples) included sensory evaluation, moisture and volatile matter content, residual soap, acid value, and peroxide value, using ISO, AOAC, and Codex reference methods. The inspections revealed major shortcomings in the storage of raw materials, equipment hygiene, worker training, and waste management, with frequent oil spills and insufficient protection of cottonseed stocks against dust, moisture, and pests. Sensory analysis showed non-compliant color, a strong odor of over-roasted cotton seeds, and unidentified suspended particles in most samples, indicating inadequate process control. The water content, volatile matter, and acidity were within Codex limits, but residual soap exceeded 50 ppm in two of the three units for most samples, and peroxide values frequently surpassed the 10 meq O₂/kg limit, indicating advanced lipid oxidation and potential long-term health risks for consumers. Taken as a whole, these results call for technological modernization of artisanal units, systematic training on good hygiene and manufacturing practices, as well as routine regulatory monitoring to better protect consumer health. These 2009 results, updated in 2026, remain consistent with recent findings.