Karnataka collects 46 lakh litres of used cooking oil in 2 years, steps up checks

Karnataka collected nearly 45.9 lakh litres of used cooking oil between 2024 and 2026 through four FSSAI-recognised agencies under the RUCO initiative.

The collected oil is converted into biodiesel to prevent it from re-entering the food chain.

The Food Safety Department has intensified inspections using TPC meters to check if oil's total polar compounds exceed the 25% unsafe threshold.

Over 52,000 food business professionals have been trained, and penalties of Rs 28.9 lakh have been imposed for violations.

Smaller eateries selling used oil to larger aggregators are a key focus, as oil is sometimes chemically treated to appear fresh for resale.