The Great Con-ola

How is the consumer to sort out the conflicting claims about canola oil? Is canola oil a dream come true or a deadly poison? And why has canola captured so large a share of the oils used in processed foods?

Canola oil isn’t the healthy oil you’ve been led to believe.

Is canola oil good or bad for you? When it comes to canola oil, some people view it as a healthy food while others avoid it at all costs. When there are two extremely passionate viewpoints, it can be very challenging to get to the bottom of it all.

Canola Oil Vs. Vegetable Oil: Which One Should I Use?

It all comes down to nutrition. Although canola oil and vegetable oil are both plant-based oils—canola oil comes from the rapeseed plant and vegetable oil is typically soybean-based or made from a blend of vegetable oils—they differ in their fat composition. While plant-based fats are considered more heart-healthy than animal fats, canola oil is generally believed to be a healthier option because it is lower in saturated fat than vegetable oil.

Claims that canola oil is toxic are going viral. Is there any truth to them?

The idea that this vegetable-based oil may be toxic has been circulating around TikTok, with the hashtag #canolaoil amassing over 47 million views. Bottom line: No, canola oil isn't toxic, but whether or not it's bad for you as an individual depends on a lot of factors, Taub-Dix says, for example your current health and what else you're eating. "You can’t just take it out of context to say this is toxic without knowing anything else about what else is in the diet," she adds.

EatingWell: Is canola oil toxic or bad for you?

There's also some truth to the idea that cooking with canola can be toxic. But there's no need to rid your pantry of it. When canola oil is heated to high temperatures (think: frying), especially for a long time, linoleic acid (a healthy fatty acid also in corn, safflower and soybean oils) gets broken down into a compound called HNE, which has been linked to heart and liver disease and neurological problems.

How British Farmers Are Making Rapeseed (Canola) Posh And Flavorful

Rapeseed, an oilseed known in North America as canola, has a mild reputation as a cooking oil. Maybe that's because the version that most consumers know is a pale, neutral-flavored oil used for frying and baking. But in the U.K., a more colorful and flavorful version has made its way onto store shelves: cold-pressed rapeseed that goes for £5-7 per 500 milliliters (about $9-12 for 17 fluid ounces).

Is Canola Oil Healthy? Here's What Dietitians Have to Say

We're setting the record straight about the rumors swirling around on TikTok and Instagram.

Is It Safe To Cook With Canola Or Vegetable Oil? Experts Explain

There are a lot of confusing nutrition topics out there, but cooking oils are near the top of the list. Over the years, there's been a big push toward canola and vegetable oils since they're high in unsaturated fats and low in saturated ones, but an isolated nutrition profile doesn't always tell the whole story—and that's especially true in this case.

Is It Time for an Oil Change in the Kitchen?

WHAT’S the best oil for everyday frying? Some markets where I shop offer more than a dozen oils, from argan and avocado to tea seed and walnut. I’d long figured that the choice is a matter of taste and price. I usually use canola oil because it’s neutral in flavor, a good source of omega-3s and inexpensive. Like soy oil, it costs about a dime a tablespoon, whereas extra-virgin olive oils can run well over a dollar.

The rise of rapeseed oil

Carefully made, high-end British rapeseed oil is all the rage in restaurants, but the cabbagey flavour means there are limits to its versatility. Do you use it?

What Is Canola Oil, and Is Canola Oil Healthy or Not?

Is canola oil bad for you? It’s a question nutritionists and food industrialists have been debating for decades. The controversy dates back to the 1970s, when it became a replacement for rapeseed oil. But what is canola oil, and is canola oil healthy—or not?