Key findings
- 1"Canola" was bred from rapeseed in the 1970s to reduce erucic acid; the name means "Canadian oil, low acid"
- 2Deodorizing canola oil requires steam distillation at 220-270C, more aggressive than most oils due to rapeseed's naturally strong flavor
- 3Expeller-pressed canola oil skips hexane extraction, reducing processing
- 4In our analysis, canola oil averages a Processing Score of 2.0, which is Level 1, because the label lists a single ingredient
Why is Canola Oil Level 1 on average?
Canola oil has a uniquely engineered origin: it was developed in the 1970s from rapeseed through conventional breeding (not genetic modification) to reduce erucic acid content below 2%. The name "canola" stands for "Canadian oil, low acid." The extraction process mirrors vegetable oil: seeds are crushed, washed with hexane to extract oil, then the crude oil undergoes degumming (phosphoric acid), alkali neutralization (sodium hydroxide), bleaching (activated clay), and deodorizing (steam distillation at 220-270C). This final deodorizing step is particularly aggressive for canola because rapeseed oil has naturally strong flavors that must be removed. Cold-pressed canola oil skips the hexane and chemical refining but costs more and has a lower smoke point. In our analysis, canola oil averages a Processing Score of 2.0, which is Level 1. Our score reads the ingredient list, which here is one ingredient, so the refining steps do not appear in it.
How 746 canola oil products break down
Share of products at each processing level, in our analysis.
Canola Oil brand comparison
From least to most processed in our database.
How to read a canola oil label
- 1
Standard canola oil lists one ingredient but undergoes several industrial processing steps
- 2
"Expeller-pressed" canola uses mechanical pressing instead of hexane: a less processed option
- 3
Cold-pressed canola oil retains more flavor and color but has a lower smoke point
- 4
Canola oil is not the same as rapeseed oil; canola was specifically bred for low erucic acid content
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Frequently asked questions
Is canola oil genetically modified?
The original canola was developed through conventional breeding in the 1970s. Today, about 90% of North American canola is GMO (herbicide-tolerant varieties). Organic canola oil is non-GMO by definition. The GMO status does not change the processing level.
Is canola oil the same as rapeseed oil?
Not exactly. Canola is a specific cultivar of rapeseed bred to contain less than 2% erucic acid. Traditional rapeseed oil has higher erucic acid levels. In Europe, "rapeseed oil" on labels is typically the same low-erucic variety called "canola" in North America.
Is canola oil or olive oil less processed?
In how it is made, extra virgin olive oil is significantly less processed than canola oil. Olive oil requires only mechanical pressing; canola oil typically requires hexane extraction and multi-step chemical refining.