Dog owners on Merseyside have been warned to stay alert after lumps of suspected palm oil washed up on Egremont beach in Wirral, following reports to Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team. Palm oil, widely used in the food industry, is harmless in itself but can become toxic when dumped at sea, and dogs may be drawn to its smell and try to eat it, risking a potentially fatal reaction.

Coastguard officers attended the beach and found a number of waxy lumps, with larger pieces bagged for collection and disposal by Wirral Council. The coastguard urged extra caution when walking dogs over the coming days, warning that further pieces may still be present or could wash ashore with future tides, and advised keeping dogs and children away from any unusual waxy or oily substances without handling them bare-handed. It follows a similar 2020 warning from the National Trust after a dog died from eating palm oil on Formby beach in Sefton.