The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is happy to announce that the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO) voted on February 19th to approve a standard for High Oleic Soybean Oil (HOSO). The standard will be advanced to the Codex Alimentarius Commission for final endorsement, which is scheduled for late November 2024. USSEC applauds the Food and Drug administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for working to get the standard approved, which will help facilitate the exports of HOSO. 

Since 2020, USSEC has collaborated with various domestic and international partners to facilitate a Codex standard for HOSO. The standard aims to facilitate trade by establishing a universally recognized benchmark for the product. In 2020, USSEC partnered with the FDA and USDA, representing the U.S. at Codex, to create a standard to the CCFO. Following efforts and support from regional partners, CCFO acknowledged the necessity for such a standard and tasked the FDA with forming a workgroup for its establishment in 2021. Since then, USSEC has collaborated with the FDA and USDA and other domestic stakeholders within the workgroup to develop the standard, with USSEC providing additional data such as acreage, availability, and composition, and having a contractor dedicated to this work. 

Codex standards are the only recognized international food safety guidelines, and they are used as an international reference to facilitate trade. 

High oleic soybean oil is processed from soybean varieties with an oleic acid content of about 70% and low saturated fatty acids._¹ This increases its oxidative stability, giving the oil a longer fry life, compared to other oils, and extends the shelf life of deep-fried food products. Additionally, there is less buildup on cooking surfaces, making cleaning equipment much easier. Furthermore, high oleic soybeans grown in the United States are verified sustainable, which has become increasingly relevant in recent years. 

For more information on high oleic soybean oil, visit High Oleic Soybean Oil - U.S. Soy Delivers Solutions (ussoy.org) 

Disclaimer: USSEC did not participate in lobbying efforts with the U.S. Government  

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This story was partially funded by U.S. Soy farmers, their checkoff and the soy value chain.