08/04/2011 (Guttridge) - Firms working in the seed oil extraction sector have been boosted by the news that a major restaurant chain is switching to rapeseed oil.

Fast-food firm Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is to introduce rapeseed oil for frying at all of its 800 UK outlets from this month, the Independent reports.

The fryers will heat high oleic rapeseed oil, which is more environmentally friendly and significantly healthier than palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, which is currently used.

This move will cost the company an extra £1 million per year, but it will boost interest in using rapeseed oil as a cooking alternative.

"Switching to high oleic rapeseed oil means not only can we offer our customers the benefit of reduced saturated fats, but the assurance we're doing everything we can to lessen our impact on the environment," Mark Bristow, head of KFC food assurance, told the publication.

This news comes after LowC Communities announced it has developed technology that uses rapeseed oil to power hot water and central heating systems.