The New Sunflower Seed Oil

Market researchers for oil seeds always have their ears to the ground swell of public opinion. Now that the word is out that hydrogenated fats create trans-fatty acids and are responsible for raising LDL cholesterol levels--the kind that contributes to blocked arteries and heart disease-the mega seed companies have taken note. They’re offering farmers a new sunflower seed called NuSun. It’s expected to replace traditional oilseed sunflowers.

The NuSun sunflower has been developed with traditional breeding techniques and was registered for sale this spring in time for planting. The seed produces an oil that is 20 per cent lower in saturated fat than traditional sunflower seeds and does not require hydrogenation to extend shelf life. It can be safely heated for frying.

In 1998, US farmers grew 100,000 acres of NuSun sunflowers, producing 60 million pounds of oil for consumer testing. In 1999, acreage grew to 450,000. This year, the US sunflower seed oil industry expects to plant at least one million acres of NuSun. Canadian growers look to plant between 50,000 and 100,000 NuSun acres in the year 2000.

Major seed companies--including Cargill, the multinational grain and seed conglomerate--say they will probably never release another traditional sunflower. All breeding is now being done with NuSun seeds and US seed crushers pay a 50 per cent hundredweight premium for the seed as incentive for producers.

The US Food and Drug Administration has proposed labelling regulations that would require food manufacturers to list the amount of trans-fatty acids in the oil--something Health Canada has never done. Health Canada claims it is not in the consumer’s interest to know the trans-fatty acid content of foods!

NuSun sunflower seed oil is expected to take over the oil market once occupied by soybean and canola oils, both of which are mainly genetically engineered now. -Western Producer December 23, 1999