7/20/2005 Comtex International - HALIFAX, NS (Resource News Internationalvia COMTEX) -- Canadian canola stands to benefit from increasing consumerhealth concerns, especially as mandatory trans fat labelling legislationis looming in both Canada (December 2005) and the US (January 2006), saidspeakers at the Canola Council of Canada's annual convention in Halifax,July 17-19.

New legislation dictating more information on the label should be good forcanola, said Pat Van Osch, Vice President of Canbra Foods Ltd. He thoughtincreased consumer awareness of the beneficial dietary fat makeup ofcanola oil would benefit the industry.

Canola oil has the lowest saturated fat content of any animal or vegetableoil on the market, at 7%, according to data provided by the CCC.Meanwhile, it has high levels of monounsaturated fat (61%) and omega-3(11%), which has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels, accordingto the CCC.

Trans fat is produced by the partial hydrogenation process used to makevegetable oils more suitable for commercial frying operations. Newvarieties of high-oleic canola are currently being produced that wouldlimit the need for partial hydrogenation, said sources.

Other alternatives to partially hydrogenated oils include palm oil basedfats, which have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease andcholesterol levels, according to research data, said speakers at theconvention.

Food processors are already noting the benefits of canola oil over otheroptions.

Kevin Flanagan, director of research and development with McCain's FoodsLtd., the world's leader in potato processing, said the company has beenusing canola oil (partially hydrogenated) in its Canadian french fryoperations since the early 1980's. In recent years, the company hasstarted introducing products made with non-hydrogenated oil, and arestating it on the front of the label.

Flanagan saw a bright future for products made with canola oil, both inCanada and the US. However, he thought work was still needed in order toraise consumer awareness about canola oil. As an example, he pointed tostudies undertaken by McCain's showing that olive oil has a betterconsumer image than canola oil in Canada, the US, and Australia, despiteits higher saturated fat content.