May 11, 2007

Independent frying study puts canola oil on top - FryTest.com has announced the results of its deep fryer study of zero trans fat oils. Canola oil blends and straight high stability canola oil received some of the best consumer taste ratings. High stability canola oils from Bunge and Cargill competed against products from FryChef, ConAgra and Loders Croklaan.

The FryTest.com study was conducted at Texas A&M University in conjunction with its oils and fats program. It was designed to provide unbiased information on the range of zero trans oils available on the market. The resulting on-line database is targeted at the restaurant industry and makers of packaged foods such as potato chips, corn chips and donuts and was completely neutral, according to FryTest.com president and CEO Stephen Joseph.

The analysis compared oils based on fat content (trans, saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats), fry life, food to oil ratio and consumer acceptance. All zero trans oils entered in the contest outperformed partially hydrogenated soybean oil, which was used as a control.

For complete details of the results, visit www.frytest.com

Tortillas cooked in canola oil make their debut - Snyder's of Hanover rolled out its MultiGrain Jalapeno Red Tortilla Strips, the company's newest snack food, at the Food Marketing Institute Show in Chicago this week. It also makes Savory Blue, Flaxseed Gold and Lightly Salted, all with canola oil. The FMI show attracted 1,000 visitors and is the place to debut new food products.

To learn more about Snyder's of Hanover's tortillas and pretzels (also with canola oil), go to: www.snydersofhanover.com

Canola oil is heart smart AND anti-aging - It seems the high fashion icon, Chanel , has discovered the wonders of canola oil. One of the fashion and cosmetics giant's newest anti-aging products, Chanel Sublimage Eye Essential Regenerating Eye Cream, features canola oil as one of its three primary ingredients.

Also made with liquorice root extract and shea butter, this cream claims to reverse the signs of aging around the eyes. The shea butter and canola oil are said to promote hydration and skin elasticity. And all for a mere $160/50 ml jar.

If eye cream alone isn't enough add a little canola oil to your diet - The popular website WebMD features an article by registered dietician Kathleen M. Zelman titled “The Anti-Aging Diet. “ Check out the recipes by Canola Camp alumni Elaine Magee (the Recipe Doctor) and Judson Simpson (House of Commons executive chef) at www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/guide/anti-aging-diet?page=3

State of Utah “growing” its biodiesel industry - The Utah Department of Transportation is considering seeding its rights-of-way with canola, flax and safflower in an effort to create truly home-grown biodiesel.

“We predict that if everything works out just right, we could take a mile of our right-of-way and generate about 500 gallons of biodiesel per year,” says UDOT director John Njord. “Now that's pretty darn significant when you consider we have thousands of miles of right-of-way within our state.”

Some of the department's trucks run on biodiesel, but the entire fleet burns about 1.5 million gallons of diesel a year. Scientists and students from Utah State University planted the three test areas for a one-year pilot. The test will be to see if these plants can survive in the most arid parts of the state.

Watch canola's star turn on Pimp My Ride - MTV did such a great job of showcasing canola biodiesel on its Earth Day special episode of Pimp My Ride that the Canola Council has arranged a rerun. Click here to view a slightly geared-down version: http://www.canola-council.org/video/NCH132362_01pimpapril07.wmv

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