Refined Cottonseed Oil

Refined cottonseed oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of cotton plants. After the cotton fibers are removed, the seeds are cleaned, delinted, and crushed to extract the oil. The crude oil then undergoes a refining process that includes degumming, neutralizing, bleaching, and deodorizing to remove impurities and create a neutral-tasting, clear oil.

Manufacturers use refined cottonseed oil as a cooking oil and as an ingredient in processed foods due to its neutral flavor and high smoke point. It is often found in baked goods, fried foods, salad dressings, margarine, and shortening.

Refined cottonseed oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use in food. It is a source of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has evaluated cottonseed oil and established specifications for its use. Some older studies raised concerns about gossypol, a natural toxin in raw cottonseed, but the refining process effectively removes it to safe levels for consumption.