Excessive Erucic Acid Detected in Some Canola and Mustard Oils Causing Heart Disease

by Jeon Jinyoung

Published 20 Apr.2022 07:20(KST)

Excessive Erucic Acid Detected in Some Canola and Mustard Oils Causing Heart Disease

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Erucic acid, which can cause heart disease, was detected above the standard level in some commonly used household products such as canola oil, mustard oil, and mustard sauce, indicating the need for caution.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency on the 20th, the agency investigated the erucic acid content in a total of 30 products circulating in the market, including 6 canola oils, 11 rapeseed oils, 10 mustard sauces, and 3 mustard oils, all derived from cruciferous plants like mustard. The results showed that some rapeseed oil and mustard oil products require caution when consumed.

Using the European Union (EU) standards as a reference, none of the 6 canola oil products detected erucic acid. All 10 mustard sauce products did not exceed the EU's maximum allowable limit of 3.5%, but 1 mustard oil and 3 rapeseed oil products exceeded the EU standard.

The Consumer Agency reported that one product (mustard seed oil) among the surveyed items was imported for external use (such as massage purposes) but was sold as food. Following the Korea Consumer Agency's recommendation for improvement, sales were halted and remaining stock was disposed of. The Korea Food and Drug Administration was notified of this fact.

Erucic acid, a type of unsaturated fatty acid, is internationally regulated to be managed below 5.0% because high content may cause arteriosclerosis and heart disease. In particular, rapeseed grown in some regions of Korea has been found to contain erucic acid exceeding 16%, indicating the need to consider introducing standards and regulations to manage erucic acid content in edible oils extracted from rapeseed and mustard seeds domestically.

Based on this investigation, the Consumer Agency plans to recommend related companies to reduce erucic acid levels and request the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to consider establishing management measures such as standards and regulations for edible oils containing erucic acid.