this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2025
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[–] grandepequeno@hexbear.net 11 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)
[–] CloutAtlas@hexbear.net 18 points 2 weeks ago

CANadian Oil Low Acid

CANOLA.

It's an extra processed and flavourless version of {菜籽油|caìzǐyoú} or Indian brassica/mustard oils. The Chinese variety comes from a plant in the mustard family (brassica) that's a cross between cabbage and turnip. The seeds of this plant (unfortunately named a word that's censored) is high in fat and produces a flavourful oil with a high smoke point and is the backbone of Sichuan cuisine.

They're naturally relatively high in acidity which North American scientists deemed to be "unhealthy" in the 20th century (read: trade protectionism for American and Canadian crops).

A study done on rats in the 60's where they were fed 70% of their daily caloric intake in high acid oils produced a high degree of heart disease and so high euricic acid oils were banned in the US and most western countries. Canadians came up with canola, a processed version of the brassica oil with an oil with acidity acceptable under the new regulations and became the staple vegetable oil in the west. Later studies overturning these findings unfortunately never overturned these regulations.

[–] SwitchyandWitchy@hexbear.net 17 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Rapseed but there's an e after the p that would make the automod unhappy

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Which comes from the mustard greens that make mustard gas, iirc?

[–] fox@hexbear.net 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Mustard gas doesn't come from mustard plants

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 7 points 2 weeks ago

You're right, according to Wikipedia,

Sulfur mustards are viscous liquids at room temperature and have an odor resembling mustard plants, garlic, or horseradish, hence the name.[3][4] When pure, they are colorless, but when used in impure forms, such as in warfare, they are usually yellow-brown. Mustard gases form blisters on exposed skin and in the lungs, often resulting in prolonged illness ending in death.[4]

Thanks for prompting a refresher.

[–] OldSoulHippie@hexbear.net 10 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

It's a seed oil. It has a different name in other places in the world that would get redacted here if I typed it

[–] piccolo@hexbear.net 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

actually There are some differences between canola and the type of oil you're referring to (but they're pretty much the same)

[–] OldSoulHippie@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Same plant? I honestly don't know a ton about foodstuff

[–] piccolo@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Canola is a genetic variant based on that type. All canola oil is that oil but not all that oil is canola. It was specifically bred to have particular properties, like being low in erucic acid.

[–] OldSoulHippie@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago
[–] barrbaric@hexbear.net 5 points 2 weeks ago

To elaborate on the other responses, it's an acronym invented to rebrand from that other name. CANada Oil Low Acid.