|
NuSun is the name chosen by the National Sunflower Association to represent an entirely new class of sunflower seed and oil. NuSun oil is significantly higher in oleic acid and therefore lower in linoleic acid than traditional sunflower oil. This improvement, which was accomplished through conventional plant breeding methods, provides oil that is naturally oxidatively stable without hydrogenation. Because these improvements may open up many new market applications for NuSun oil, it is possible that the entire sunflower crop will be converted to the NuSun class within three to four years.
It is important to recognize that even though NuSun oil is identity preserved through handling and processing, it will have some variability around its target 65% oleic acid level due to differences among the NuSun sunflower hybrids that have been developed. The NuSun crop will become more uniform over time.
NuSun oil does not need hydrogenation and allows for the production of stable products with zero trans fatty acids. This is a definite benefit considering today's health conscious consumer and the new labeling regulations the Food and Drug Administration has proposed. Having determined that trans fatty acids have adverse effects on cholesterol measures, the FDA proposed significant changes to nutrient content claims related to saturated fats.
Until now, the only clue that consumers had regarding the presence of trans fats in their food was the use of the term "hydrogenated" on the list of ingredients. The term indicates that the manufacturer has used hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils - modifications made to increase shelf life - in the product. The new labeling criteria would change this and trans fatty acids would be clearly labeled on products nutritional labels. Products containing NuSun Oil could be at an advantage from a nutritional standpoint due to the inherent stability without hydrogenation and trans fats.
|
|
