June 26, 2008 [LINK / comment]
What the heck is "canola oil"?
It rhymes with granola, so it must be healthy, right? Well, maybe not. I've learned from Dan that "canola oil" actually is extracted from genetically engineered rapeseed plants, which are poisonous in their natural form. (The toxic ingredient is erucic acid, but hardly any of that remains in the modern version which is sold in stores.) The "Can" part of the name refers to the country of origin: Canada, where the climate is not suitable for soybeans or most other oilseed crops. See ithyroid.com. Canola oil has also become popular in India, I have learned; see The Hindu Business Line.
But don't push the panic button just yet. According to the rumor-busting Web site snopes.com, the dangers of canola oil are greatly exaggerated. Time will tell.