Qualified Health Claims

Canola Oil

On Oct. 6, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a qualified health claim for canola oil on its potential to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. In short, it states that consuming about 1.5 tablespoons of canola oil daily in place of saturated fat may reduce the risk of heart disease. Officially, this claim is:

Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about 1½ tablespoons (19 grams) of canola oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the unsaturated fat content in canola oil. To achieve this possible benefit, canola oil is to replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day. One serving of this product contains [x] grams of canola oil.

High-Oleic Canola Oil

On Nov. 19, 2018, the FDA authorized the same qualified health claim for edible oils high in oleic acid (containing at least 70 percent per serving), a monounsaturated fat. Consuming such oils, including high-oleic canola oil, may reduce the risk of heart disease when used in place of sources of saturated fat. Just 1.5 tablespoons (19 grams) a day of high-oleic oils is enough to have this effect. Official claims are:

Supportive but not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that daily consumption of about 1½ tablespoons (20 grams) of oils containing high levels of oleic acid, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. To achieve this possible benefit, oleic acid-containing oils should replace fats and oils higher in saturated fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day. One serving of [x] oil provides [x] grams of oleic acid (which is [x] grams of monounsaturated fatty acid.

Supportive but not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that daily consumption of about 1½ tablespoons (20 grams) of oils containing high levels of oleic acid, when replaced for fats and oils higher in saturated fat, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. To achieve this possible benefit, oleic acid-containing oils should not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day. One serving of [x] oil provides [x] grams of oleic acid (which is [x] grams of monounsaturated fatty acid).

All of the above claims may be used by canola oil bottlers and makers of eligible products* on labels and in promotional materials.

* Criteria for foods eligible to bear the claim include containing at least 4.75 grams of canola oil per reference amount customarily consumed, no more than one gram of trans fat and low levels of saturated fat and cholesterol.