Determination of Erucic Acid: Precise Analysis Methods and Accurate Results

Presence of Erucic Acid in Oils...

Erucic acid is a 22-carbon, monounsaturated fatty acid naturally found in vegetable oils such as canola, mustard and rapeseed. Due to its potential negative effects on human health, it is important to control the amount of erucic acid in food products.

What is Erucic Acid and Why is it Important?

Erucic acid (C22:1) is a long-chain fatty acid and is found in the form of triglycerides in oil crops such as canola and mustard. Erucic acid is a long-chain unsaturated fatty acid found in high levels in rapeseed. Due to its harmful effects on human health, the use of erucic acid is limited to the amounts specified in the “Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on Sampling and Analysis Method Criteria for Official Control of Erucic Acid Level in Certain Foods” prepared by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.

What are the Effects on Health?

• High consumption of erucic acid can lead to cardiovascular and liver toxicity.
• It may affect lipid metabolism, especially in growing children.

What are the Legal Limits?

In the European Union, Turkey and many other countries, the erucic acid content in food oils should not exceed 2%. In rapeseed oil, which is known as one of the healthiest cooking oils, the amount of erucic acid should be less than 1 g/kg. This limit is even lower in products such as baby food.

Why is Erucic Acid Determination Performed?

1. Legal Compliance: Food codexes and international regulations stipulate that the amount of erucic acid in oils must be below a certain limit.
2. Consumer Safety: Controlling erucic acid levels minimizes health risks.
3. Product Quality Control: It is an important parameter in the quality assessment of oils.
4. Baby and Children's Products: It is critical that the amount of erucic acid in these products is low.

Related Regulations and Standards

• Turkish Food Codex: Regulates the ratio of erucic acid in food oils.
• Codex Alimentarius: Specifies erucic acid limits in international food standards.
• European Union (EC No 1881/2006): Limits the maximum level of erucic acid in certain oils to 2%.
• ISO 5509: Standard for the preparation of methyl esters of fatty acids.
• ISO 5508: A guide for the analysis of fatty acids by gas chromatography.

Erucic acid can be found in 20-45% of rapeseed oil. However, as a result of animal experiments, some changes in the heart tissues of animals and a significant amount of fat accumulation in the myocardium due to its effect on enzymes that break down fats were detected.

Due to its erucic acid content, rapeseed plant has been improved and canola plant is grown. Unlike rapeseed, canola oil is used in human and animal nutrition as it is not harmful to health. The erucic acid content of canola oil has been reduced from 40% to 0.1% by breeding the rapeseed plant.

Due to the harm of erucic acid to human health, its analysis in oils is an important parameter that must be kept under control.

Nanolab Laboratories Group continues to provide services within the scope of Erucic Acid Determination. We also provide services in Olive Oil Analysis.

Contact us for more information.

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