Developed in the early 1970s through old fashioned plant hybridization, Canola oil has quickly become a staple oil for industrial and personal uses.  Modified from rapeseed, which has a large erucic acid concentration found to be carcinogenic in high quantities, Canola was developed to lower levels of this acid to make a cheap healthy oil source. Originally dubbed as LEAR (Low Erucic Acid Rapeseed), this did not have the appropriate connotations to become a beloved household brand.  Thus Canola oil was born, derived from the words CANadian Oil Low Acid, and a new oil entered our lives. Canola oil is high in unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, which we’re told are good for us.  However, there is an increasing amount of evidence that Canola may actually be harmful in some cases, especially from the industrial processing associated with extracting the oil. [Read more here…](http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/conola.html) -Graig Sutherland Sources: – Sally Fallon & Mary G Enig (2002). [“The Great Con-ola”](http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/conola.html). WestonAPrice.org. Retrieved on 2009-06-10 – “[Richard Kieth Downey: Genetics](http://www.science.ca/scientists/scientistprofile.php?pID=348)“. science.ca. 2007. Retrieved on 2009-06-10 – Storgaard, AK (2008). “[Stefansson, Baldur Rosmand](http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0007687)“. CanadianEncyclopedia.ca. Retrieved on 2009-06-10