Knowledge is Power

Canola oil is a genetically engineered product from Canada, hence the name “Canola Oil”. It was approved by the FDA, placed on GRAS (General Recognized as Safe) and heavily marketed a safe oil for culinary use. The US Canola Association widely marketed their product to the health food market with claims that it guards against free radicals (said to weaken cells making them susceptible. However, a 1998 report from EPA stated that they have classified canola oil as a bio-pesticide which “has low chronic toxicities”. The report also stated that there have been no studies regarding the toxic effects on Humans.
It is rumored that the Canada made a deal with the FDA giving them some $50 million to approve this product and market their genetically engineered Canola oil. Although this allegation could not be verified, it appears that America’s consumers have been misled. What we do know is that Canola oil is derived from the rape seed oil, which is a prime ingredient used for pesticides and extremely toxic. Rape seed is derived from the mustard family and is a highly toxic and poisonous weed. (Mustard weed was used by the U.S. Military to create “mustard gas” a chemical warfare agent). Mustard gas, first used during World War I, was known to cause severe burning and blistering on the skin, respiratory tract irritation, as well as DNA damage. Additionally, prior to its new image as a “safe” culinary oil, Canola oil was largely used as an industrial product for lubricating machinery.
The following is an example why we should take health matters into our own hands:
According to The Province newspaper report there were concerns about Canola oil by Japanese health officials, prompting their researchers to conducted a study which found that the life span of rats fed a diet rich in canola oil were 40% shorter than those that were not. This was apparently confirmed by research conducted in Canada, but Canada Health disregarded their own study stating that it would not have the same effect on humans
How does an Industrial oil used as a lubricant, and an agricultural pesticide agent suddenly become safe for human consumption. Shouldn’t we have been given the facts about this product before it made its way to our supermarkets? I am almost certain that many of us would have cautiously decided not to use Canola oil because of its history.