Canada Canola Council Comments on Health Claim for Canola Oil

A health claim approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration makes Canadian canola oil an “attractive choice for quick-serve restaurants and food processors." The Canola Council of Canada says the claim means canola oil provides a high-stability oil that is both low in saturated fat and free of trans fat. The U.S. FDA recently announced that oils containing a high level of oleic acid, such as high oleic canola oil, can now carry the new qualified health claim. The claim is based on a review of the scientific evidence on the cardiovascular benefits of the consumption of oleic acid. The claim states that, "supportive but not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that daily consumption of about 1.5 tablespoons of oils containing high levels of oleic acid, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease." Canola oil has been eligible to use a similar qualified health claim based on its unsaturated fat content and reduction of the risk of coronary heart disease since 2006.