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Canola Oil

Level 4Significant concerns2 sources

Canola Oil is a other additive listed in the FDA food-additive database.

Also: rapeseed oil, RBD rapeseed oil

Where you'll see it

Hellmann's mayonnaise (78%), Turkey Twizzlers, GU desserts, M&S sausage rolls

What the research says

RBD-processed seed oil in the same group as palm, soy, sunflower; deodorised and bleached so it loses all natural identity, becomes 'interchangeable' with other RBD oils so manufacturers swap based on market price. [ultra-processed-people] RBD-processed seed oil in the same group as palm, soy, sunflower; deodorised and bleached so it loses all natural identity, becomes 'interchangeable' with other RBD oils so manufacturers swap based on market price. [metabolical] Most commercial canola is partially hydrogenated for shelf stability, generating trans fats. When heated, cis-double bonds isomerize to trans-double bonds; a study showed rats fed canola oil heated to high temperature for falafel frying had higher rates of colon tumors and gut inflammation than rats fed lower-heat canola.

Regulatory status

  • Notes: From enrichment source only, not in Winter Dictionary

Sources

  • Metabolical (Lustig)Chapter 14; Chapter 18: most canola oil is partially hydrogenated for shelf stability… rats that ate spent canola oil had a higher incidence of colon tumors and gut inflammation
  • Ultra-Processed People (van Tulleken)Chapter 2: The invention of UPF: used to make soybean oil, palm oil, canola (rapeseed) oil and sunflower oil