Guide Note

Canola Oil is an edible oil derived from rapeseed, a bright yellow flowering plant.

Canola was once a specialty crop in Canada but has become a prominent crop in North America, at first because of the need to use it as a lubricant for steam engines during World War II and then because of the health claims.

The Canola Council of Canada claims that canola oil is the healthiest of all common cooking oils, though no clinical trials have ever confirmed this fact. But canola oil is a popular choice for frying foods, salad dressings, and baking.

Fast Facts

1. Derived from "Canadian Oil Low Acid"
2. Genetically engineered rapeseed oil
3. Canada and the U.S. produce up to 10 million metric tons annually
4. Low in Saturated Fat
5. North Dakota: Produces 91% of U.S. Canola (2004)
6. Has recently replaced trans fat in many restaurants and businesses
7. A potential source for Biodiesel Energy.

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