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Dog owners have been put on alert after suspected palm oil washed up on a Merseyside beach. <\/b><\/p>\n
Lumps of the waxy substance were located on Egremont beach in Wirral after reports to Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team. <\/p>\n
Palm oil is widely used in the food industry but when dumped at sea it can become toxic.<\/p>\n
The coastguard said dogs could be attracted to the smell and might try to eat it – and if it was ingested it could cause a fatal reaction. <\/p>\n
Rescue officers attended the beach earlier and located a number of lumps of the substance along the beach.<\/p>\n
Some of the larger pieces were bagged and removed from the beach for collection and disposal by Wirral Council.<\/p>\n
The coastguard said: “Please take extra care when walking dogs on the beach over the next couple of days. <\/p>\n
“Further pieces may still be present or could wash ashore with subsequent tides.<\/p>\n
“Keep dogs and children away from any unusual waxy or oily substances and avoid handling them with bare hands.”<\/p>\n
In January 2020, the National Trust issued a warning when a dog died after eating palm oil on Formby beach in Sefton. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n