Beachgoers and dog walkers across Kent are being urged to exercise extreme caution after a highly dangerous substance washed up on several popular shorelines. Authorities have identified the material as palm oil, which poses a severe and potentially lethal threat to pets.
Coastguard Discovers Hazardous Substance
The alarm was raised after HM Coastguard in Margate was tasked to investigate reports of a suspicious find. On Saturday, 28 December 2025, teams discovered a white, barrel-shaped waxy substance on the foreshore at Ramsgate Main Sands. Following an assessment, officials concluded the material is likely to be palm oil, a product known to be toxic to animals if ingested.
Multiple Beaches Affected
The discovery was not isolated. Thanet District Council confirmed that similar white waxy deposits have been sighted at two other locations: Margate Main Sands and Botany Bay. In response, the council announced plans to erect prominent warning signs at all three affected beaches. Inspections of the coastline were scheduled for first light on Sunday, 29 December, with clearance operations to follow.
HM Coastguard Margate issued a direct plea to the public via social media, stating: "We found the object and believe it may be Palm oil. This is highly dangerous to dogs so please if you are out walking keep your dog on a lead and definitely do not allow them to eat it." They also reported awareness of another lump of the substance near the North Foreland private estate.
Urgent Public Safety Advice
Both the Coastguard and the local council have issued clear guidance for anyone visiting the impacted areas. The primary instruction is for dog owners to keep their pets on a lead at all times and to vigilantly prevent them from consuming any foreign material on the sand.
Authorities are also asking the public to assist by reporting any further sightings of the substance directly to the Coastguard to aid in its swift removal. The situation underscores the unpredictable hazards that can wash up on UK shores and the critical need for public awareness to prevent pet fatalities.
While palm oil itself is not uncommon on British beaches, its appearance in these concentrated, barrel-like forms presents a significant danger. Dog walkers are advised to remain alert not only in the officially flagged zones but on any stretch of coastline in the region.
