Meadowfoam

Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba) is a flowering plant cultivated for the high-quality oil obtained from its seeds. About 95% of the oil is composed of 20- and 22-carbon fatty acids — very-long-chain monounsaturates unusual among vegetable oils — which confer exceptional oxidative stability. It may serve as a substitute for whale oils or jojoba oils in industrial, lubricant and cosmetic applications. The development of low-erucic-acid lines has enabled food applications of meadowfoam oil, and its stability can improve the keeping quality of blended vegetable oils. As with any novel food oil, food use requires appropriate safety assessment and regulatory clearance.