Canola Oil is Made From a Plant – Are You Allergic?

Canola oil is made from something you might not expect, so it’s a good idea to check for allergies, just in case.

What Is Canola Oil?

Until yesterday, I honestly thought Canola oil came from something called a Canola—maybe a plant that looked vaguely corn-like.

When I finally looked it up, I learned that Canola oil comes from the seeds of the canola plant.
Okay, simple enough.

But that’s not the whole story.

You see, Canola oil is actually made from rapeseed.

I learned this the hard way yesterday, when my youngest child, who has a severe allergy to rapeseed, accidentally ingested Canola oil and had a major reaction.

Soy Oil, Canola Oil, and Allergies

It’s true, Canola oil comes from rapeseed.

Ever since we discovered my child’s soy allergy, we’ve been hunting for alternative products that allow us to cook as usual, just without the soy that triggers his migraine-like reactions. During those episodes, he turns pale and green, completely drained.

Thankfully, it’s not an anaphylactic allergy. He doesn’t experience swelling or breathing difficulties, and we haven’t needed to use an EpiPen.

My husband at the time found a soy-free pancake mix from Log Cabin. The recipe called for oil, and we had a bottle of olive and Canola oil blend in the cupboard. He made the pancakes, we all enjoyed them, and everything seemed fine.

20 Minutes Later: The Canola Oil Reaction

If my child is going to react to something, it usually happens within 15 to 30 minutes of eating it.

I was out walking the dog when my partner called—stressed and worried—saying he thought we might need to take her to the ER.

I rushed home to find him screaming in pain, holding his head. He had tried to treat himself with a small dose of Benadryl, but it wasn’t enough. My child was still in pain.

He begged me not to use the EpiPen, and since the symptoms weren’t anaphylactic, I agreed.

Instead, I reached for ice packs and Young Living Lavender oil, which brought the pain a little.

Why the Reaction Was So Strong

Because the Canola oil was mixed in as an ingredient rather than cooked at high heat on its own, it wasn’t fully denatured during the process.

My son also has OAS (Oral Allergy Syndrome)—for example, he can’t eat raw bananas but has no problem with banana bread.

(For more on OAS, see this article on WebMD.)

So now we know: if you have an allergy to rapeseed, Canola oil may trigger it.

While Canola oil is generally considered a healthy cooking oil, it’s best avoided if rapeseed is a known allergen for you or someone in your family.