This new variant of rapeseed developed in Canada was given the name "canola" from "Canadian oil, low acid" to differentiate it in the marketplace. Canola oil contains less than 2% erucic acid compared to about 50% in traditional rapeseed oil.
How is canola oil made?
Canola oil is made at a processing facility by slightly heating and then crushing the seed. Almost all commercial canola oil is then extracted using hexane solvent, which is recovered at the end of processing.
Where did canola oil come from?
Canola oil has come a long way from rapeseed’s origins thousands of years ago. Through determined Canadian research and breeding innovations, canola emerged as a versatile nutritional oil source quite distinct from its brassica ancestors.
What is canola oil?
Canola oil is a food-grade version derived from rapeseed cultivars specifically bred for low acid content.