Spring in Perthshire

During May and June of this year, one colourful addition to the Perthshire landscape are those bright yellow fields growing oilseed rape (aka canola, rapeseed, or koolzaad in the Dutch language).. the last time these bright yellow fields were visible here in this part of the Highlands was back in 2022 (apparently the local farmers grow this every 3 or 4 years) – at present, when cycling around this part of the Highlands, those bright colours (in this case yellow) really stand out against the other more muted tones, and therefore enhance the overall atmosphere created while taking in the surrounding landscape.

Above photo; The view from Dunsinane Hill near Perth out towards Dundee.. oilseed rape fields and the surrounding landscape.

Main photo; oilseed rape fields on a recent cycle from Scone Palace up towards Cargill and Blairgowrie, by avoiding the A93

We do cycle tours, but sometimes when environmental issues are raised they are worth pursuing.. especially when they have any kind of impact on ecotourism (sustainable transport) or conserving the environment.. the info below has nothing to do with cycle tours, but may be of use when deciding whether to use rapeseed/canola oil in your diet..

What is Rapeseed or Canola?

Rapeseed is grown for the production of edible vegetable oils, animal feed, and biodiesel. Rapeseed was the third-leading source of vegetable oil in the world in 2000, after soybean and palm oil, and is the world's second-leading source of protein meal after soybean.

Rapeseed has become much more popular over the past few decades as part of the production of vegetable or cooking oil. So much so, that back in the 1980’s the UK produced 0.3 million tons per year, while by 2011 it had gone up to 2.8 million tons. The same thing has happened across the globe (in Canada from 1.8 million tons during the 80’s to 14.6 million tons per year, or France who went from 1 million up to 5.4 million tons by 2011).. Then from 2011, China and India have since become two of the World’s largest producers of this cooking oil (at 14.7 and 10.2 million tons per year), while from 2021 Russia has since started to produce 2.8 million tons per year.

However, there is now a catch to all of this when going forward in the use as a vegetable or cooking oil; as while Rapeseed oil may be one of the oldest known vegetable oils, historically it was actually used in limited quantities due to high levels of erucic acid (which is damaging to the cardiac muscle of animals/humans), as untreated Rapeseed oil can contain up to 54% erucic acid! – so this raises the hidden complication or problem of how this will fit in with those production standards that were initially set to reduce those levels of erucic acid, now that more countries are producing this to the global market? (see below for examples)

Food for thought; When using rapeseed/canola in the future as cooking oil..

The food-grade oil derived from rapeseed cultivars, known as canola oil or low-erucic-acid rapeseed oil (LEAR oil) is generally considered safe in the EU and USA - Canola oil is limited by government regulation to a maximum of 2% erucic acid by weight in the US and 2% in the EU, with special regulations for infant food. So back in 1980’s or 90’s the North American and EU regulations described above ensured that these low levels of erucic acid in the food-grade oil (your cooking oil) are not believed to cause harm in humans… but it remains unclear today who is responsible for monitoring the % erucic acid in the rapeseed oil manufactured since Brexit in the UK (now that they have left the EU), or in the volume that could come in on mass from China, India, or even Russia?.. see below for more info on current standards.. What happens if companies within the EU or USA start to import and re-package the product? Now that literally has become or is; food for thought!? 😉

From a recent check (2025); The legal limit now for erucic acid in rapeseed oil used in food products is 5%, but many contracts and standards set the limit at 2% (many contracts and standards is therefore not all of them anymore?)

From UK manufacturers; Most refined rapeseed oils or canola oil, generally has a very low erucic acid content, typically below 2%.

Most.. generally.. typically: so no longer an actual guarantee anymore then either?

Traditional varieties of rapeseed oil can contain around 40% or more Erucic acid. These levels are too high to be safe for regular consumption by humans. When looking at the aforementioned countries outside the EU or USA, this provides a mixed bag of info, so make your own minds up on using rapeseed, canola or koolzaad (Dutch) oil when next cooking?

The original government regulation to 'a maximum of 2% erucic acid' is already rising..

In certain regions of China, rapeseed oil, like that found in the Shaanxi province, can contain high levels of erucic acid, averaging around 43.83% - However, China also produces low-erucic acid rapeseed oil, which is defined as having less than 3% erucic acid.

India's rapeseed oil: While there are regulations and standards for erucic acid in various countries, some parts of Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, have been reported to consume rapeseed oil with a higher percentage of erucic acid.

Russia's Production: Russia produces both high-erucic acid rapeseed oil for industrial uses and low-erucic acid rapeseed oil (canola) for food applications. Rapeseed oil, especially from Russia, can contain significant amounts of erucic acid. While traditional varieties might have 40% or more, modern, low-erucic acid varieties, often called canola oil, are typically under 2%.

We do cycle tours, but sometimes when environmental issues are raised they are worth pursuing.. especially when they have any kind of impact on ecotourism (sustainable transport) or conserving the environment

Above photo; The view from Luncarty to Perth back in 2022.. prior to this year, the last time local farmers were growing oilseed rape in some of their fields.

All photos by HBT