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Gossypium Herbaceum

Low concern

Cottonseed contains gossypol, a toxic compound that must be removed during oil refining. Refined cottonseed oil is GRAS, but unrefined cottonseed contains gossypol which is toxic at high doses (anti-fertility effects, organ damage).

Found in

4 products

What it is

Levant cotton (Gossypium herbaceum); the seeds yield cottonseed oil.

Source of cottonseed oil and cotton fiber; cottonseed used in livestock feed and oil extraction.

Why it's flagged

High in omega-6 fatty acids

What regulators actually say

"Gossypol, a polyphenolic compound found in cotton seeds, has been studied for its toxic effects including reproductive and organ toxicity."

NCBI - Toxicological evaluation of gossypol — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Regulatory status

United States — FDA

Refined cottonseed oil GRAS

European Union — EFSA

Cottonseed oil permitted

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