canola factsheet

History

• In 1974, Dr. Baldur Stefansson and Dr. Keith Downey bred the first “double-low” variety of rapeseed which reduced both anti-nutritive components, erucic acid and glucosinolate. This Brassica napus variety, Tower, was the first to meet specific nutritional requirements and was to become known as “canola”.
• The main uses of canola seed are extraction of canola oil for human consumption and production of the remaining canola meal for livestock feeding based on its nutritive protein value. Prior to the development of Supertein™ and Puratein®, canola proteins have not been successfully extracted and used for human consumption.
• Today, canola is the second largest oilseed crop in the world following soybean and represents the most valuable crop in Canada.

Canola Oil

• Canada’s leading vegetable oil and a proven biodiesel fuel used worldwide.
• Contains the lowest saturated fatty acid level of any commonly consumed vegetable oil available on the market. Clinical studies have shown that high levels of blood cholesterol and increased risk for coronary heart disease are associated with high intakes of certain dietary saturated fatty acids.
• Contains high levels (61%) of the monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid. Oleic acid has been shown to reduce the bad cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) while not affecting the good cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
• Contains moderate levels of essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Canola Meal

• Contains approximately 35% of crude protein.
• Excellent source of protein for swine and poultry rations due to low glucosinolate content.
• Good amino acid balance but contains anti-nutritional factors such as phytate and glucosinolate making canola meal unsuitable for human consumption.
• Canola meal is used as starting materials for the production of purified canola protein isolates Supertein™ and Puratein®

   To view the rest of the Canola Factsheet click here.