, May 13, 2009
Heart Healthy Soybean Product Reaches Regulatory Milestone in Canada
This week, DuPont announced it reached a regulatory milestone for its next generation of healthier soybean products. Pioneer Hi-Bred received confirmation from Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that its high oleic soybean trait has been approved for cultivation, food and feed use in Canada.
Pioneer’s high oleic soybean trait is more than three times higher in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and has a more than 20 percent reduction in saturated fat over commodity soybean oil. Like low linolenic soybean oil, high oleic soybean oil eliminates the need for hydrogenation, resulting in foods with negligible amounts of trans fats.
Oil testing results from high oleic soybeans from Pioneer produced in 2008 again confirmed that the oil contains about 80 percent oleic acid. The high levels of oleic acid significantly increase the stability of the oil when used in frying and food processing, meaning the oil doesn’t break down as quickly. Soybeans are grown on more acres than any other oilseed crop in North America, making high oleic soybeans a cost-effective solution.
“This is a significant milestone in our effort to bring the high oleic soybean trait to market,” said Paul E. Schickler, Pioneer president and DuPont vice president and general manager. “We’re seeing strong results in field testing of soybeans with the high oleic trait and strong interest from food companies looking for a new oil product with improved nutritional qualities and performance characteristics.”
Canada and Mexico are the first countries to complete regulatory reviews of the high oleic trait. Pioneer completed U.S. regulatory submissions for approval of the high oleic soybean oil trait in December 2006. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration completed its review of high oleic soybeans earlier this year and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is in the process of reviewing the trait. Regulatory submissions for the trait are planned or have been completed in key soybean importing countries around the world.
For more information, you can read the full press release here.
