erucic acid

[ih-roo-sik]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a solid fatty acid, a homologue of oleic acid, derived from oils of mustard seed and rapeseed.

erucic acid

/ ɪˈruːsɪk /

noun

1. a crystalline fatty acid derived from the oils of rapeseed, mustard seed, and wallflower seed

Word History and Origins

Origin of erucic acid¹

1865–70; < New Latin Eruc ( a ) the rocket genus ( Latin ērūca; rocket ² ) + -ic

Example Sentences

Rapeseed oil contains very high levels of erucic acid, which in large amounts can be toxic to humans.

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However, canola oil — a contraction of “Canadian” and “ola,” which means oil — is bred to be low in erucic acid.

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It can’t contain more than 2 percent erucic acid; in 2017, the average level was only 0.01 percent.

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This is mainly a reaction to myths that have circulated on the Internet about its perils; they are based on the misperception that the oil is made from rapeseed, which contains high levels of erucic acid, a compound that can be toxic to humans.

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The canola plant was developed by natural crossbreeding from the rapeseed plant, and contains very low levels of erucic acid.

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