Rapeseed (canola) oil: BIG CON

Rapeseed oil also known as canola oil, is now being lablled as the healthiest oil, even better then olive oil.

So how is it produced? This is taken from rapeseedoil.co.uk who appear to be a much more responsible oil manufacturer and perhaps process oil in a way that most of us presume all oil to be extracted.

"We just squeeze the seed and out comes the pure oil, fully intact with all of the natural nutrients, colour and delicious flavour. Unlike industrial oil extraction we don't pre-heat the seeds, nor do we use any chemicals - this would yield more oil but would seriously lower the quality. We only press the seed once to give the best oil; this is what is meant by extra virgin (cold pressed). Yellow Fields cold pressed oil is not refined - simply pressed, filtered and bottled." (This is not the way that most rapeseed oil is extracted)

This is taken from www.westonaprice.org and explains more about how most commercial rapeseed is produced.

Rapeseed has been used as a source of oil since ancient times because it is easily extracted from the seed. Interestingly, the seeds were first cooked before the oil is extracted. In China and India, rapeseed oil was provided by thousands of peddlers operating small stone presses that press out the oil at low temperatures. What the merchant then sells to the housewife is absolutely fresh.

Modern oil processing is a different thing entirely. The oil is removed by a combination of high temperature mechanical pressing and solvent extraction. Traces of the solvent (usually hexane) remain in the oil, even after considerable refining. Like all modern vegetable oils, canola oil goes through the process of caustic refining, bleaching and degumming--all of which involve high temperatures or chemicals of questionable safety. And because canola oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which easily become rancid and foul-smelling when subjected to oxygen and high temperatures, it must be deodorized. The standard deodorization process removes a large portion of the omega-3 fatty acids by turning them into trans fatty acids. Although the Canadian government lists the trans content of canola at a minimal 0.2 percent, research at the University of Florida at Gainesville, found trans levels as high as 4.6 percent in commercial liquid oil.²⁴ The consumer has no clue about the presence of trans fatty acids in canola oil because they are not listed on the label.

A large portion of canola oil used in processed food has been hardened through the hydrogenation process, which introduces levels of trans fatty acids into the final product as high as 40 percent.²⁵ In fact, canola oil hydrogenates beautifully, better than corn oil or soybean oil, because modern hydrogenation methods hydrogenate omega-3 fatty acids preferentially and canola oil is very high in omega-3s. Higher levels of trans mean longer shelf life for processed foods, a crisper texture in cookies and crackers--and more dangers of chronic disease for the consumer.²⁶

Rapeseed gives me hay fever - Taken from rapeseedoil.co.uk (They know it's an issue and are clearly trying to direct consumers away from such views)

Many people think that rapeseed pollen is linked with asthma and hay fever. This is unlikely however, as rapeseed is a crop that relies on pollen transfer by insects. Since rapeseed flowers have a distinctive smell, and it flowers in spring and early summer when other pollen is in the air, hay fever sufferers may wrongly jump to the conclusion that it is the rapeseed that is to blame simply because they can smell it.

My View: Rapeseed does cause a bad reaction in humans, I have witnessed and experienced the rise in hayfever and asthma sufferers in my own family. Having moved away from kent, we no longer suffer, but when we return for family visits and the plant is in bloom, we have an instant negative reaction. Having never suffered hayfever or asthma as a child, both myself and parents all began showing extreme symptoms of hayfever shortly after the crops were planted nearby. Rapeseed often lines the motorways and fields backing onto people gardens. It would be great to have records detailing an increase in hayfever and asthma medication in areas where the crops have been placed.

Do people put up with it because it's so pretty?  We'd love to hear your views, Feel free to leave us a comment!