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==Health Concerns==
==Health Concerns==
Commercial canola oil has been shown to contain unlabeled 0.56% to 4.2% harmful trans fats. <ref> Sean O'Keefe, Sarah Gaskins-Wright, Virginia Wiley, I-Chen Chen. "Levels of trans geometrical isomers of essential fatty acids in some hydrogentated U.S. vegetable oils", 1994, Journal of Food Lipids, 1(3),165-176.</ref> "Trans isomers of α-linolenic acid, which are formed by deodorization of refined vegetable oils, can be found in significant amounts in edible oils." <ref name=TransLineE>Susanne H. F. Vermunt, Bernard Beaufrere, Rudolph A. Riemersma, Jean-Louis Sebedio, Jean-Michel Chardigny, Ronald P. Mensink and the TransLinE investigators. "Dietary trans α-linolenic acid from deodorised rapeseed oil and plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy men: the TransLinE Study", British Journal of Nutrition (2001), 85, 387-392.</ref> Levels of trans fatty acids similar to those that have been found in processed canola have been shown to raise bad LDL cholesterol levels in humans in just six weeks.<ref name="TransLineE"/>
Commercial canola oil has been shown to contain unlabeled 0.56% to 4.2% trans fats. <ref> Sean O'Keefe, Sarah Gaskins-Wright, Virginia Wiley, I-Chen Chen. "Levels of trans geometrical isomers of essential fatty acids in some hydrogentated U.S. vegetable oils", 1994, Journal of Food Lipids, 1(3),165-176.</ref> "Trans isomers of α-linolenic acid, which are formed by deodorization of refined vegetable oils, can be found in significant amounts in edible oils." <ref name=TransLineE>Susanne H. F. Vermunt, Bernard Beaufrere, Rudolph A. Riemersma, Jean-Louis Sebedio, Jean-Michel Chardigny, Ronald P. Mensink and the TransLinE investigators. "Dietary trans α-linolenic acid from deodorised rapeseed oil and plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy men: the TransLinE Study", British Journal of Nutrition (2001), 85, 387-392.</ref> Levels of trans fatty acids similar to those that have been found in processed canola have been shown to raise LDL cholesterol levels in humans in just six weeks.<ref name="TransLineE"/>


A connection has been found between [[erucic acid]] (found in canola oil) and [[autism]]. "The main findings include increased levels of ... erucic acid ... Our results .... suggest some metabolic or dietary abnormalities in the regressive form of autism." <ref>Bu B, Ashwood P, Harvey D, King IB, Water JV, Jin LW. "Fatty acid compositions of red blood cell phospholipids in children with autism." Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2006 Apr;74(4):215-21.</ref> [[Autism]] spectrum disorders are the second most common serious developmental disability in the United States.<ref name=Newschaffer>{{vcite journal |author=Newschaffer CJ, Croen LA, Daniels J ''et al.'' |author.= |title=The epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders |journal=Annu Rev Public Health |year=2007 |volume=28 |pages=235–58 |pmid=17367287 |doi=10.1146/annurev.publhealth.28.021406.144007 |url=http://idea.library.drexel.edu/bitstream/1860/2632/1/2006175339.pdf |format=PDF }}</ref>
A connection has been found between [[erucic acid]] (found in canola oil) and [[autism]]. "The main findings include increased levels of ... erucic acid ... Our results .... suggest some metabolic or dietary abnormalities in the regressive form of autism." <ref>Bu B, Ashwood P, Harvey D, King IB, Water JV, Jin LW. "Fatty acid compositions of red blood cell phospholipids in children with autism." Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2006 Apr;74(4):215-21.</ref> [[Autism]] spectrum disorders are the second most common serious developmental disability in the United States.<ref name=Newschaffer>{{vcite journal |author=Newschaffer CJ, Croen LA, Daniels J ''et al.'' |author.= |title=The epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders |journal=Annu Rev Public Health |year=2007 |volume=28 |pages=235–58 |pmid=17367287 |doi=10.1146/annurev.publhealth.28.021406.144007 |url=http://idea.library.drexel.edu/bitstream/1860/2632/1/2006175339.pdf |format=PDF }}</ref>


==Genetic modification==
==Genetic modification==

Revision as of 00:23, 25 October 2010

For other uses, see Canola oil (disambiguation).
Bottle of canola cooking oil

Canola is one of two cultivars of rapeseed or Brassica campestris (Brassica napus L. and B. campestris L.).[1] Their seeds are used to produce edible oil that is fit for human consumption because it has lower levels of erucic acid than traditional rapeseed oils and to produce livestock feed because it has reduced levels of the toxic glucosinolates.[2] Canola was originally naturally bred from rapeseed in Canada by Keith Downey and Baldur R. Stefansson in the early 1970s,[3][4] but it has a very different nutritional profile in addition to much less erucic acid.[5] The name "canola" was derived from "Canadian oil, low acid" in 1978.[6][7] A product known as LEAR (for low erucic acid rapeseed) derived from cross-breeding of multiple lines of Brassica juncea is also referred to as canola oil and is considered safe for consumption.[8]

Canola oil

Canola oil is made at a processing facility by crushing the rapeseed. Approximately 42% of a seed is oil. What remains is rapeseed meal, a high quality animal feed. 22.68 kilograms (50 pounds) of rapeseed makes approximately 10 liters (2.64 US gallons) of canola oil.

Canola is a key ingredient in many of the foods we eat. Its reputation as a healthy oil has created high demand in markets around the world. Canola oil has many non-food uses, and often replaces non-renewable resources in products including candles, lipsticks, newspaper inks, industrial lubricants and biofuels.

The average density of canola oil is 0.92 g/ml.[9]

Health benefits

Compound Family % of total
Oleic acid
ω-9
61%[10]
Linoleic acid
ω-6
21%[10]
Alpha-linolenic acid
ω-3
11%[10] 9%[11]
Saturated fatty acids
7%[10]
Palmitic acid
4%[11]
Stearic acid
2%[11]
Trans fat
0.4%[12]

Canola oil is low in saturated fat, is high in monounsaturated fat, and has a beneficial omega-3 fatty acid profile. The Canola Council of Canada states that it is completely safe and is the "healthiest" of all commonly used cooking oils.[13] It has well established heart health benefits[14] and is recognized by many health professional organizations including the American Dietetic Association, and American Heart Association, among others.[15][16][17][18] Canola oil has been authorized a qualified health claim from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration[19] based on its ability to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to its unsaturated fat content.

E-mail hoax

In 1999 an e-mail was widely circulated that falsely claimed that canola oil was harmful to human health[citation needed] . This is now considered an email hoax making unsubstantiated claims. Reputable research studies confirm that canola oil is a safe and healthy choice.[20][21][22]

History

Close up of canola blooms.
Canola field in Temora, New South Wales

Once considered a specialty crop in Canada, canola has become a major North American cash crop. Canada and the United States produce between 7 and 10 million tonnes of canola seed per year. Annual Canadian exports total 3 to 4 million tonnes of the seed, 800,000 tonnes of canola oil and 1 million tonnes of canola meal. The United States is a net consumer of canola oil. The major customers of canola seed are Japan, Mexico, China and Pakistan, while the bulk of canola oil and meal goes to the United States, with smaller amounts shipped to Mexico, China, and Europe. World production of rapeseed oil in the 2002–2003 season was about 14 million metric tons.[23]

Canola was developed through conventional plant breeding from rapeseed, an oilseed plant already used in ancient civilization. The word "rape" in rapeseed comes from the Latin word "rapum," meaning turnip. Turnip, rutabaga, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, mustard and many other vegetables are related to the two canola varieties commonly grown, which are cultivars of Brassica napus and Brassica rapa. The negative associations due to the homophone "rape" resulted in creation of the more marketing-friendly name "Canola". The change in name also serves to distinguish it from regular rapeseed oil, which has much higher erucic acid content.

Hundreds of years ago, Asians and Europeans used rapeseed oil in lamps. The Chinese and Indians used a form of canola oil that was unrefined (natural).[24] As time progressed, people employed it as a cooking oil and added it to foods. Its use was limited until the development of steam power, when machinists found rapeseed oil clung to water- or steam-washed metal surfaces better than other lubricants. World War II saw high demand for the oil as a lubricant for the rapidly increasing number of steam engines in naval and merchant ships. When the war blocked European and Asian sources of rapeseed oil, a critical shortage developed and Canada began to expand its limited rapeseed production.

After the war, demand declined sharply and farmers began to look for other uses for the plant and its products. Edible rapeseed oil extracts were first put on the market in 1956–1957, but these suffered from several unacceptable characteristics. Rapeseed oil had a distinctive taste and a disagreeable greenish colour due to the presence of chlorophyll. It also contained a high concentration of erucic acid. Experiments on animals have pointed to the possibility that erucic acid, consumed in large quantities, may cause heart damage, though Indian researchers have published findings that call into question these conclusions and the implication that the consumption of mustard or rapeseed oil is dangerous.[25][26][27][28][29] Feed meal from the rapeseed plant was not particularly appealing to livestock, due to high levels of sharp-tasting compounds called glucosinolates.

Plant breeders in Canada, where rapeseed had been grown (mainly in Saskatchewan) since 1936, worked to improve the quality of the plant. In 1968 Dr. Baldur Stefansson of the University of Manitoba used selective breeding to develop a variety of rapeseed low in erucic acid. In 1974 another variety was produced low in both erucic acid and glucosinolates; it was named Canola, from Canadian oil, low acid.

A variety developed in 1998 is considered to be the most disease- and drought-resistant variety of Canola to date. This and other recent varieties have been produced by using genetic engineering.

An Oregon State University researcher has determined that growing winter canola for hybrid seed appears possible in central Oregon, USA. Canola is the highest-producing oil-seed crop, but the state prohibits it from being grown in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties because it may attract bees away from specialty seed crops such as carrots, which require bees for pollination.

Canola was originally a trademark but is now a generic term for this variety of oil. In Canada, an official definition of canola is codified in Canadian law.[30]

Health Concerns

Commercial canola oil has been shown to contain unlabeled 0.56% to 4.2% trans fats. [31] "Trans isomers of α-linolenic acid, which are formed by deodorization of refined vegetable oils, can be found in significant amounts in edible oils." [32] Levels of trans fatty acids similar to those that have been found in processed canola have been shown to raise LDL cholesterol levels in humans in just six weeks.[32]

A connection has been found between erucic acid (found in canola oil) and autism. "The main findings include increased levels of ... erucic acid ... Our results .... suggest some metabolic or dietary abnormalities in the regressive form of autism." [33] Autism spectrum disorders are the second most common serious developmental disability in the United States.[34]

Genetic modification

Canola field in Saskatchewan

Genetically engineered canola which is tolerant to herbicide was first introduced to Canada in 1995. Today 80% of the acres sown are genetically modified canola.[35] A 2010 study found transgenes in 80% of wild or "feral" varieties in North Dakota, meaning 80% of those were of "genetically modified" or genetically engineered varieties. The researchers stated that "we found the highest densities of [such transgene-containing] plants near agricultural fields and along major freeways, but we were also finding plants in the middle of nowhere" adding that "over time,..the build-up of different types of herbicide resistance in feral [natural] canola and closely related weeds,..could make it more difficult to manage these plants using herbicides."[36]

Legal Issues

Genetically modified canola has become a point of controversy and contentious legal battles. In one high-profile case (Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Schmeiser) the Monsanto Company sued Percy Schmeiser for patent infringement after his field was contaminated with Monsanto's patented Roundup Ready glyphosate-tolerant canola. The supreme court ruled that Percy was in violation of Monsanto's patent because he had intentionally grown the crops land, but he was not required to pay Monsanto damages since he did not benefit financially from its presence.[37] On March 19, 2008, Schmeiser and Monsanto Canada Inc. came to an out-of-court settlement whereby Monsanto would pay for the clean-up costs of the contamination which came to a total of $660 Canadian.[38]

The introduction of the genetically modified crop to Australia is generating considerable controversy.[39] Canola is Australia's third biggest crop, and is often used by wheat farmers as a break crop to improve soil quality. As of 2008 the only genetically modified crops in Australia were non-food crops: carnations and cotton. In 2003, Australia's gene technology regulator approved the release of canola altered to make it resistant to the herbicide Glufosinate ammonium.[40]

Other facts

See also

References

  1. ^ Brown, J (1996). "Gene transfer between canola (Brassica napus L.) and related weed species". Annals of Applied Biology. 129 (3): 513–22. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7348.1996.tb05773.x. Retrieved 2008-12-29. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) [dead link]
  2. ^ "Canola". infoplease.com. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  3. ^ "Richard Keith Downey: Genetics". science.ca. 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  4. ^ Storgaard, AK (2008). "Stefansson, Baldur Rosmund". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  5. ^ Barthet, V. "Canola". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  6. ^ "What is canola?". A problem with weeds – the canola story. Biotechnology Australia (Australian Government). Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  7. ^ Klahorst, Suanne J. (1998). "Dreaming of the Perfect Fat". Food Product Design (Virgo Publishing). Archived from the original on 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2007-10-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ "Low Erucic Acid Rapeseed (Lear) Oil Derived From Canola-quality Brassica juncea (L.) CZERN. Lines PC 97-03, PC98-44 AND PC98-45". Health Canada. Retrieved 2008-12-29. {{cite web}}: Text "2003-03-27" ignored (help)
  9. ^ Section 3.1 in: Leaking Tank Experiments with Orimulsion™ and Canola Oil NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS OR&R 6. Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. December 2001.
  10. ^ a b c d "Comparison of Dietary Fats Chart". Canola Council of Canada. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  11. ^ a b c USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 21 (2008)
  12. ^ USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 22 (2009)
  13. ^ "Canola Oil: The truth!". Canola Council of Canada. Archived from the original on 2007-10-19. Retrieved 2007-10-20. Canola oil is the healthiest of all commonly used cooking oils. It is lowest in saturated fat, high in cholesterol-lowering mono-unsaturated fat and the best source of omega-3 fats of all popular oils.
  14. ^ de Lorgeril, M (2006-02-09). "The Mediterranean-style diet for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases". Public Health Nutr: 118–23. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Canola Oil: Good for Every Body" (PDF). American Dietetic Association. 2006. Retrieved 2008-09-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) [dead link]
  16. ^ "Know Your Fats". American Heart Association. 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ "Protect Your Heart: Choose Fats Wisely" (PDF). American Diabetes Association. 2004. Retrieved 2008-09-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ "AAFP 2006-Changing the Landscape of Chronic Disease Care". American Association of Family Physicians 2006 Scientific Assembly. 2006. Retrieved 2008-09-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  19. ^ "Qualified Health Claims, Letter of Enforcement Discretion U.S. Food and Drug Administration". 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2008-09-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  20. ^ Mikkleson, Barbara and David P. (2005). "Urban Legends Reference Pages: Canola Oil and Rape Seed". Snopes. Retrieved 2007-10-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  21. ^ Edell, Dean (1999). "Canola Oil: Latest Internet Hoax Victim". Healthcentral.com. Retrieved 2007-10-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  22. ^ Zeratsky, Katherine (2009). "Canola Oil: Does it Contain Toxins?". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2010-02-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  23. ^ USDA. "Agricultural Statistics 2005" (pdf).
  24. ^ Fats that Heal, Fats that Killby Udo Erasmus.
  25. ^ Ghafoorunissa (1996). "Fats in Indian Diets and Their Nutritional and health Implications". Lipids. 31: S287–S291. doi:10.1007/BF02637093. PMID 8729136.
  26. ^ Shenolikar, I (1980). "Fatty Acid Profile of Myocardial Lipid in Populations Consuming Different Dietary Fats". Lipids. 15 (11): 980–982. doi:10.1007/BF02534427.
  27. ^ Bellenand, JF; Baloutch, G; Ong, N; Lecerf, J (1980). "Effects of Coconut Oil on Heart Lipids and on Fatty Acid Utilization in Rapeseed Oil". Lipids. 15 (11): 938–943. doi:10.1007/BF02534418.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Achaya, KT (1987). "Fat Status of Indians - A Review". Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research. 46: 112–126.
  29. ^ Indu, M; Ghafoorunissa (1992). "n-3 Fatty Acids in Indian Diets - Comparison of the Effects of Precursor (Alpha-Linolenic Acid) Vs Product (Long chain n-3 Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids)". Nutrition Research. 12: 569–582. doi:10.1016/S0271-5317(05)80027-2.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "Canola Varieties". Canola Growers Manual. Canola Council of Canada. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
  31. ^ Sean O'Keefe, Sarah Gaskins-Wright, Virginia Wiley, I-Chen Chen. "Levels of trans geometrical isomers of essential fatty acids in some hydrogentated U.S. vegetable oils", 1994, Journal of Food Lipids, 1(3),165-176.
  32. ^ a b Susanne H. F. Vermunt, Bernard Beaufrere, Rudolph A. Riemersma, Jean-Louis Sebedio, Jean-Michel Chardigny, Ronald P. Mensink and the TransLinE investigators. "Dietary trans α-linolenic acid from deodorised rapeseed oil and plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy men: the TransLinE Study", British Journal of Nutrition (2001), 85, 387-392.
  33. ^ Bu B, Ashwood P, Harvey D, King IB, Water JV, Jin LW. "Fatty acid compositions of red blood cell phospholipids in children with autism." Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2006 Apr;74(4):215-21.
  34. ^ Newschaffer CJ, Croen LA, Daniels J et al. The epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders [PDF]. Annu Rev Public Health. 2007;28:235–58. doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.28.021406.144007. PMID 17367287.
  35. ^ "Canola Facts: Why Growers Choose GM Canola". Canola Quick Facts. Canola Council of Canada. Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2007-10-20. GM or transgenic canola varieties have been modified to be resistant to specific herbicides. They are called herbicide-resistant varieties. The plants are modified, but the oil is not modified. It is identical[citation needed] to canola oil from non-modified or conventional canola. Herbicide-resistant GM canola is grown on about 80% of the area in western Canada. GM canola was first introduced in 1995.
  36. ^ GM plants 'established in the wild'
  37. ^ Federal Court of Appeal of Canada. Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Schmeiser (C.A.) [2003] 2 F.C. 165. Retrieved 25-Mar-2006.
  38. ^ "Monsanto vs Schmeiser: In the Spotlight..." Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  39. ^ for example Price, Libby (2005-09-06). "Network of concerned farmers demands tests from Bayer". ABC Rural: Victoria. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2007-10-10. and "Greenpeace has the last laugh on genetic grains talks". Rural news. Australian Broadcaasting Corporation. 2003-03-13. Retrieved 2007-10-20. also Cauchi, Stephen (2003-10-25). "GM: food for thought". Science article. The Age. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  40. ^ "GM canola gets the green light". National News. Sydney Morning Herald. 2003-04-01. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  41. ^ Canola Council of Canada - Canola Facts: Why Growers Choose GM Canola
  42. ^ http://www.nass.usda.gov/nd/marrank.txt

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Canola oil.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brassica campestris.
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