Product Review- Emami Healthy and Tasty Refined Rice Bran Oil

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Emami Healthy & Tasty Refined Rice Bran Oil is a popular rice bran oil brand in India.
This oil is high in PUFA and this PUFA is mostly omega 6 fats. As omega 6 PUFAs are susceptible to oxidation when heated, irrespective of the smoking point of Emami Healthy , we do not recommend this oil for high heat cooking. Specifically, this oil must not be used for deep frying, tadka or heating in the pan with dry masalas.
There is evidence that Oxidised PUFA is a source of toxicity in food and can cause a wide range of lifestyle diseases. Emami Healthy Tasty refined bran oil may however, be used as a safe cooking oil for low heat cooking. Another problem with it is that it may damage the Omega3 and Omega6 balance. We recommend that people exclusively using this oil for cooking must supplement with Omega 3 to rebalance these fats in their diets. Lack of omega 6 and omega 3 balance can be harmful.
The foodnetindia rating for this product :-
foodnetindia safety rating: 6– (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unsafe to very safe)
This is oil is very rich in PUFA and Indians often use it for high heat cooking like deep frying, tadka etc. While the oil itself does not have severe safety issues, the way people use it may render the oil toxic for many due to oxidized PUFA.
Emami Healthy Tasty Refined Rice Bran Oil contains antioxidant IN 319 TBHQ. It is used as an antioxidant in fats and oils like vegetable oil, snack foods, cereals, other fat-containing foods.
It prevents rancidity and is sometimes used along with similar preservatives, including BHA, BHT, and propyl gallate, with which it has a synergistic effect.
There are reports of visual disturbances in humans exposed to this chemical.Mild to moderate exposure may cause Nausea,vomiting, headache, dizziness, delirium, tinnitus,green or brownish urine, elevated liver enzymes,muscle twitching, and dyspnea.
Severe toxicity in humans may cause seizures, metabolic acidosis, cyanosis, methemoglobinemia, albuminuria, hematuria, liver damage, marked cachexia, respiratory failure, coma, and cardiovascular collapse.
In a government study which used a better design than other similar studies, TBHQ increased the incidence of tumors in rats.
foodnetindia wholesomeness rating: 3 – (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unbalanced nutrition profile to excellent nutrition profile)
Rice bran oil is the oil extracted from the germ and inner husk of rice, majority of rice bran oil on the market is chemically extracted using solvents, in particular petroleum-derived hexane and high heat which may destroy the antioxidants in it and oxidise the PUFA.
We do not have a clarification from the brand on the methods used for extraction.
One of the main features of Rice bran oil is that it contains Oryzanol, found to be a powerful antioxidant only found in rice bran oil. Oryzanol may reduce liver cholesterol synthesis and may be useful for treating menopausal disorders.
The product  is fortified and contains added Vitamin A, D and E which are beneficial for many.
Rice bran oil has a high omega-6 content, which can be detrimental to health if oxidised by high heat cooking excessively. In addition, a high consumption of omega-6 PUFA, may increase risk of several diseases if not balanced with adequate consumption of Omega 3 fats.
The presence of IN 319 is a cause of concern and we would advise the brand to replace it with another suitable ingredient.
Ingredients of Concern in Emami Healthy and tasty Rice Bran Oil
Antioxidant IN 319
TBHQ (TERT-BUTYLHYDROQUINONE) is used as an antioxidant in fats and oils like vegetable oil, snack foods, cereals, other fat-containing foods.
It prevents rancidity and is sometimes used along with similar preservatives, including BHA, BHT, and propyl gallate, with which it has a synergistic effect. A benefit of TBHQ over other preservatives is that it does not cause discoloration in the presence of iron.
Toxic effects of TBHQ on humans and rats
There are reports of visual disturbances in humans exposed to this chemical.Mild to moderate exposure may cause Nausea,vomiting, headache, dizziness, delirium, tinnitus,green or brownish urine, elevated liver enzymes,muscle twitching, and dyspnea.
Severe toxicity in humans may cause seizures, metabolic acidosis, cyanosis, methemoglobinemia, albuminuria, hematuria, liver damage, marked cachexia, respiratory failure, coma, and cardiovascular collapse.
Studies on animals
t-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) produced no teratogenic effects in pregnant rats fed with it in the diet. Rats fed TBHQ in the diet caused liver enlargement.
Acute neurotoxic effects of animals exposed to TBHQ included the following: convulsions, and medullary paralysis. Toxicology and carcinogenicity studies were conducted in rats and mice. Mice were exposed to t-butyl hydroquinone in feed for 2 years.
In a government study which used a better design than other similar studies, TBHQ increased the incidence of tumors in rats.
Other ingredients that are in the product but not a major source of concern in our opinion are:

• Refined Rice Bran Oil,
• Vitamin A,D and E

Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information. foodnetindia encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
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