Codex Standard for High Oleic Soybean Oil Established

The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is pleased to recognize the establishment of the Codex Standard for high oleic soybean oil (HOSO). During its 47^thmeeting on November 25-30, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) adopted a revision to the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (Codex Stan 210-1999) to include the first standard for HOSO.  

The establishment of a Codex standard for HOSO is the culmination of years of work by USSEC, partner organizations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Codex member states. The standard aligns the global definition of HOSO and is expected to facilitate the global trade of this product.  

“We are delighted with the recent Codex decision which reflects the dedicated efforts of numerous U.S. stakeholders who contributed to making this development a success,” said Mike Koehne, American Soybean Association and USSEC board director. “As a farmer producing high oleic soybeans, I’m particularly excited about how the adoption of this new standard will allow for increased production and export potential, providing greater opportunities for farmers across the U.S. to grow value-added soybeans.” 

High oleic soybean oil is processed from soybean varieties with a monounsaturated fat content of about 70% and low saturated fatty acids.¹This 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.¹ Furthermore, high oleic soybeans grown in the United States are verified sustainable through the Sustainable U.S. Soy Assurance Protocol. For more information on high oleic soybean oil, visit High Oleic Soybean Oil - U.S. Soy Delivers Solutions (ussoy.org). 

The Codex Alimentarius Commission is a global body made up of 189 member states and organizations and is recognized as the global standard setting body for the food trade with a mission to harmonize guidelines and definitions to facilitate international trade. A copy of the Codex draft final report from CAC47 can be found here. The standard is set to be formally published by Codex in the first quarter of 2025.