Dog owners have been advised to be cautious after a waxy substance, suspected to be palm oil, was discovered on Egremont beach in Wirral. The Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team responded to reports and located several lumps of the substance.
Palm oil, while used in the food industry, can become toxic when dumped at sea. The coastguard stated that dogs may be attracted to its smell and could experience a fatal reaction if they ingest it.
Rescue officers removed some of the larger pieces from the beach for collection and disposal by Wirral Council. The coastguard has urged the public to keep dogs and children away from any unusual waxy or oily substances, and to avoid handling them with bare hands, as further pieces may wash ashore.