L'olio di colza per uso cosmetico è tra gli oli più economici del mercato e si estrae meccanicamente e chimicamente. I semi di colza hanno un contenuto molto elevato di olio, circa il 40% .

E' denominato Canola oil o rapeseed oil.

Le piante della colza, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, Brassica juncea appartengono alla famiglia delle Brassicaceae.

Il procedimento di estrazione necessita di grandi impianti specializzati e passa attraverso queste fasi :

• Pulitura del seme oleoso tramite depolverazione e deferizzazione mediante spremitura meccanica per garantire una resa migliore.
• Spremitura a freddo con estrazione meccanica dell'olio grezzo.
• Chiarificazione dell'olio grezzo mediante separazione dai fanghi (direttiva DIN V 51605).
• Filtraggio dell'olio chiarificato mediante microfiltrazione ad 1 micron.
• Stoccaggio dell'olio filtrato in apposite cisterne omologate.

Sicurezza

L'acido erucico è un acido che può causare tossicità ad elevate dosi sulle funzioni del muscolo cardiaco. Tuttavia, dal 1991, la Comunità Europea ha stabilito linee di coltivazione più restrittive per la colza, per cui la quantità di questo acido nell'olio di colza è drasticamente diminuita.  Nel 2016, l'EFSA ha proposto un contenuto massimo inferiore di acido erucico negli oli commestibili del 2% (anziché del 5%) e ha anche suggerito una dose giornaliera tollerabile di 7 mg di acido erucico per kg di peso corporeo (1). Pare che questi limiti siano generalmente rispettati nell'Unione Europea (2) sia nell'olio che in prodotti ittici come  salmone e sgombro (3). Occorre comunque prestare attenzione al cumulo di assunzione di questo composto chimico.

Dopo l'olio di soia e l'olio di palma, l'olio di colza è il terzo olio più popolare al mondo. Per la sua composizione che comprende tocoferoli, steroli e composti fenolici (acido sinapico), ha proprietà antiossidanti.

Si presenta in forma di liquido oleoso giallo o come polvere bianca dal leggero odore di nocciola.

Caratteristiche tipiche del prodotto commerciale Rapeseed oil

Protegge la pelle tramite regolazione del suo equilibrio idrico e produce un leggero effetto antinvecchiamento. Questo studio ha rilevato che alcuni prodotti proteasi solamente con la procedura di idrolizzazione (Alcalase 2.4L FG, Protex 6L, Protamex e Corolase 7089) hanno esercitato in vitro  attività antiossidanti, antirughe e antinfiammatorie (4).

Utilizzato nei trattamenti per  e saponi. capelli, oli per unghie.

Bibliografia______________________________________________________________________

(1) Vetter, W., Darwisch, V., & Lehnert, K. (2020). Erucic acid in Brassicaceae and salmon–An evaluation of the new proposed limits of erucic acid in food. NFS journal, 19, 9-15.

Abstract. Erucic acid is a long-chain fatty acid classified as a natural toxin due to detrimental effects on heart muscle functions. Major sources of dietary intake of erucic acid are oil of rapeseeds and other Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae) such as mustard. In 2016, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) proposed a lower maximum content of erucic acid in edible oils of 2% (instead of 5%) and also suggested a tolerable daily intake of 7 mg erucic acid per kg body weight. In this article, we measured exemplarily samples of rapeseed, mustard, further Brassicaceae and used the data to discuss possible consequences for consumers, producers and the food sector. This data was supplemented with possible analytical problems caused the EFSA proposal and analysis of salmon fillet (erucic acid content: wild catch ~ farmed salmon < organic salmon) which, together with other fish, was verified as a relevant but unregulated source of erucic acid intake. Salmon also contained an isomer of erucic acid whose content was even higher than erucic acid.

(2) Russo, M., Yan, F., Stier, A., Klasen, L., & Honermeier, B. (2021). Erucic acid concentration of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) oils on the German food retail market. Food science & nutrition, 9(7), 3664-3672.

Abstract. Rapeseed oil is one of the most important vegetable oils in Germany. It has a favorable fatty acid composition but also contains a certain amount of erucic acid (EA). As the result of toxicological considerations regarding this fatty acid, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for EA of 7 mg/kg body weight in 2016. On this basis, the maximum EA levels for vegetable oils allowed in the European Union have been reduced shortly from 50 to 20 g/kg, and for infant formula and follow-on formula from 10 to 4 g/kg. However, rapeseed oil is also recommended for the preparation of homemade food for infants and children. Little is known about the actual EA concentrations of rapeseed oils on the German retail market. Current data are especially important for the necessary reassessment of its recommendation in infant and child nutrition based on the established TDI. Three hundred representative rapeseed oil samples were purchased in retail stores across Germany. EA concentrations, determined by GC-FID, were in a range of 0.17–9.68 g/kg, with 241 samples being even below 4 g/kg. All oils were below the maximum level valid at the time of this investigation, and even below the newly established lower maximum level of 20 g/kg. The major part also met the requirements for infant and follow-on formula. The representative results provide valuable current data for the necessary reassessment of the dietary recommendations for infant and child nutrition based on the established TDI.

(3) Sissener, N. H., Ørnsrud, R., Sanden, M., Frøyland, L., Remø, S., & Lundebye, A. K. (2018). Erucic acid (22: 1n-9) in fish feed, farmed, and wild fish and seafood products. Nutrients, 10(10), 1443.

Abstract. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a risk assessment of erucic acid (22:1n-9) in 2016, establishing a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for humans of 7 mg kg−1 body weight per day. This report largely excluded the contribution of erucic acid from fish and seafood, due to this fatty acid often not being reported separately in seafood. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in Norway analyzes erucic acid and has accumulated extensive data from analyses of fish feeds, farmed and wild fish, and seafood products. Our data show that rapeseed oil (low erucic acid varieties) and fish oil are the main sources of erucic acid in feed for farmed fish. Erucic acid content increases with total fat content, both in farmed and wild fish, and it is particularly high in fish liver, fish oil, and oily fish, such as mackerel. We show that the current TDI could be exceeded with a 200 g meal of mackerel, as at the maximum concentration analyzed, such a meal would contribute 143% to the TDI of a 60 kg person. These data cover a current knowledge gap in the scientific literature regarding the content of erucic acid in fish and seafood.

(4) Rivera D, Rommi K, Fernandes MM, Lantto R, Tzanov T. Biocompounds from rapeseed oil industry co-stream as active ingredients for skin care applications. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2015 Oct;37(5):496-505. doi: 10.1111/ics.12222.