Omega-9 fatty acids are a family of fatty acids found in various plant sources. Canola, sunflower, olive, and nut oils, have significant levels of omega-9 fatty acids, which also are known as high-oleic acids, or monounsaturated fats. Omega-9 Canola and Sunflower Oils are uniquely high (>70%) in omega-9 fatty acids. These oils have emerged as healthier options to replace commonly used partially hydrogenated oils, which often contain high levels of unhealthy trans and saturated fats.

Through a process called hydrogenation, liquid vegetable oils are injected with hydrogen, which is intended to increase their stability and shelf life. As a byproduct of this process, unnatural trans fat is created in the oil. Studies have shown that these fats can lead to increased “bad” cholesterol and decreased “good” cholesterol, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. To avoid eating foods with these oils, it is important to read nutrition labels on packaged foods and ask whether your favorite restaurants use hydrogenated oil in the preparation of menu items.

Manufactured or artificial trans fat is the byproduct of the hydrogenation process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils, increasing their stability and shelf life. Many companies use trans fat-laden oils in the preparation of their foods because they are easy to produce, last a long time, impart some taste and texture, and can be used many times in fryers.

Studies have shown that manufactured or artificial trans fat can lead to increased “bad” cholesterol and decreased “good” cholesterol, which are significant risk factors in heart disease.

The consumption of artificially produced trans fat, like what is found in partially hydrogenated oils, has been shown to be unhealthy. Recent studies, though, indicate that natural trans fat, like those found in cattle by-products and milk, may actually have healthy benefits.

According to the American Heart Association, saturated fatty acids or saturated fat has all the hydrogen the carbon atoms can hold. Saturated fats are usually solid at room temperature, and they’re more stable — that is, they don’t combine readily with oxygen. Saturated fat, along with trans fat is considered a main dietary factor in raising blood cholesterol.

Because they were developed specifically for use in foodservice and food manufacturing, Omega-9 Oils are not available at the retail level. These oils are created from canola and sunflower seeds produced by Dow AgroSciences, which are crushed, processed, and sold by oil production companies. They are sold under a variety of brand names, including Nutra-Clear NT, Canola Harvest HiLo and Mel-Fry Free Canola. They are the only brands that can guarantee the Omega-9 Oils benefits of health, taste, oil performance and stability.

For home use, regular canola and sunflower oils, which you can find in grocery stores, are great solutions. They have many of the same health characteristics, including zero trans fat, low saturated fat, and relatively higher levels of “heart-healthy” monounsaturated fat.

Yes, Omega-9 Oils are readily available to meet the growing demand of the foodservice industry. In fact, Dow AgroSciences, who produces the seeds, doubled capacity in 08 to more than a billion pounds. They plan to more than double again by 2012.

Bunge Oils (United States)
Nutra-Clear NT™
™Nutra-Clear NT is a trademark of Bunge North America

P.O. Box 28500
11720 Borman Drive
St. Louis, MO 63146-1000
(314) 292-2000

Bunge Oils (Canada)
Nutra-Clear™
™Nutra-Clear is a trademark of Bunge North America

2190 South Service Road West
Oakville, ON L6L 5N1
(905) 825-7900

Richardson Oilseed Limited (Canada)
Canola Harvest HiLo™
™Canola Harvest HiLo is a trademark of Richardson Oilseed Limited

2800-One Lombard Place
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y1
Canada
Phone: (866) 397-7756

Stratas Foods
Frymax® Sun Supreme
®Frymax is a trademark of Stratas Foods

1610 Century Center Parkway, Suite 105
Memphis, TN 38134
(888) 404-1004

Ventura Foods, LLC
Mel-Fry® Free Canola
®Mel-Fry Free Canola is a trademark of Ventura Foods, LLC

40 Pointe Drive
Brea, CA 92821
(714) 257-3700

No, Omega-9 Oils are used in the foodservice and food manufacturing industries in a variety of applications, including deep frying, par-frying, baking, spraying, sautéing and as an ingredient in salad dressings.

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat (like omega-6), considered an essential fatty acid because it cannot be manufactured by the body. As a result, people must obtain omega-3 fatty acids from foods such as fish, nut and plant-based oils, such as canola oil and sunflower oils.

Omega-6 fatty acid is also a polyunsaturated fat, essential for human health because it cannot be made in the body. For this reason, people must obtain omega-6 fatty acids by consuming foods such as meat, poultry and eggs as well as nut and plant-based oils, such as canola and sunflower oils.