Food Regulatory Bodies Declare Canola, Corn, and Sunflower Oils in Tostitos Scoops Safe for Consumption

Tostitos is a popular brand of tortilla chips and dips owned by Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo. They are a favorite snack for parties, gatherings, and casual snacking at home. But recently, social media users have raised their concerns about the oils used to prepare these. 

Tostitos Scoops uses three kinds of oils, namely corn oil, canola oil and sunflower oil. As the claim suggests, these oils are harmful for human consumption, so the product should be avoided for our own good.

However, Fact Crescendo found the claim to be false. All the three oils mentioned in the post are approved by food safety regulatory bodies to be used in foods and are also found to be safe when used in cosmetics and agricultural purposes. 

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Fact Check – 

Let’s check the safety of each of the oils.

Canola Oil: 

According to the Canola Council, Canola oil has been declared Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration. The FDA also allowed canola oil to carry a health claim, saying it might help lower the risk of heart disease when used instead of saturated fats. However, this is not conclusive. FDA had also approved to carry a claim for high oleic canola oil because it has a lot of healthy monounsaturated fats. In Canada, canola oil is approved to carry a health claim that replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats can help lower blood cholesterol.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also considers canola oil safe because it has very low toxicity and is already approved as an edible oil for human food. Studies have shown its safety and nutritional properties are similar to other vegetable oils. The EPA has granted it for use on many food crops, ornamental plants, and houseplants to control pests like aphids, beetles, mites, and caterpillars. Since it breaks down quickly in the environment and poses little risk to people, animals, and wildlife. 

Corn Oil: 

The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) stated that corn oil is a refined corn product which is produced under very strict safety and quality standards. Producers follow the U.S. FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and current Good Manufacturing Practices. Their facilities are regularly audited by both the FDA and their customers. Refined corn oil is considered very safe, with almost no cases of recalls by the FDA. During the process of the production of corn oil, harmful things like heavy metals, toxins, pesticides, and germs are removed making the oil safe for consumers to use. 

FDA considers Corn Oil safe for people to consume. It has been studied, tested and shown not to be toxic, harmful or carcinogenic. Studies on animals and past research confirm that corn oil does not cause health problems when eaten in normal amounts. The oil is made from corn germ, a part of the corn kernel that naturally contains oil, and its production process removes harmful substances. Because of this evidence, experts concluded that corn oil is “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS) for use in food.

Sunflower Oil: 

EFSA explained that sunflower oil is generally safe for people, animals, and the environment when used properly. It is also used as a fungicide on vegetables. It is not toxic, does not cause health problems, and breaks down naturally without leaving harmful residues. EFSA even agreed that there are no major risks to consumers, workers, or the environment when exposed to it. However, some areas need more data for further study, but overall the oil is considered safe and suitable for use for agricultural purposes as well. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes sunflower seed oil and its triglycerides or fatty acids on its list of indirect food additives. These ingredients can be used in special coatings that might touch food by accident. The CIR Panel studied sunflower seed oil, hydrogenated sunflower seed oil, and sunflower seed acid and found these to be safe when used in cosmetics and personal care products as well.

Conclusion: 

Fact Crescendo found the claim to be false. All the three oils, canola, corn and sunflower oils have been approved by food safety regulatory bodies and are considered safe for human consumption.