Cotton Oil

Cottonseed oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the cotton plant. After the cotton fibers are removed, the seeds are cleaned, delinted, and crushed to extract the oil. The crude oil is then refined to remove impurities and make it suitable for consumption.

Cottonseed oil is a versatile cooking oil used in a variety of food products. It is often used in salad dressings, mayonnaise, shortening, and baked goods due to its neutral flavor and high smoke point. It can also be found in processed snacks, candies, and some fried foods.

Cottonseed oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use in food. It contains a mix of saturated and unsaturated fats, including linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid). While generally considered safe, some older research raised concerns about gossypol, a natural toxin in raw cottonseed, but the refining process effectively removes it. International bodies like JECFA have evaluated edible fats and oils, but specific numeric limits for cottonseed oil are not typically set.