Chia seed oil
Chia seed oil is pressed or extracted from the seeds of Salvia hispanica, a mint-family plant grown mainly in South America and Mexico. About 30% of the seed is oil, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) usually makes up the largest share of its fatty acids. Brands buy it as cold-pressed oil for softgels and liquid supplements, as refined oil for foods, or as a powder.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Mechanically pressed and filtered oil, the usual grade for supplements, often sold against a minimum ALA level.
Oil extracted with CO2 rather than a press, offered by some suppliers as solvent-free with a lighter color.
Refined and deodorized oil with milder flavor for food applications.
Oil from certified organic seed, a common request for supplement brands.
Oil microencapsulated on a carrier for dry blends and capsules.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Keep sealed under nitrogen, cool and dark; refrigerate after opening. High ALA makes the oil oxidize fast once air gets in, so buy in container sizes that match usage. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, with peroxide and anisidine values retested on aged stock.
ALA level and color vary with growing region and crop year, so record the fatty acid profile and oxidation values from each lot COA. Rotate first-expiry, first-out.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Fixed Oil Products - Oral monograph lists chia seed oil, from the seed of Salvia hispanica, as a permitted ingredient.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)That monograph requires the statement 'Refrigerate after opening' for products containing chia seed oil, except encapsulated products.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Salvia hispanica (POL-NF-00681) covers the seeds, seed oil and partially defatted seed powders and gives them the status authorised novel food.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Distributor · Oxford, CT
Connecticut supplier, trading as Praan Naturals, of certified organic and conventional carrier oils, butters, waxes, clays and botanicals for personal care manufacturers.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include cold-pressed oil, supercritical CO2 extracted, refined oil, organic and powder. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect fatty acid profile, peroxide and anisidine values, free fatty acids, heavy metals and pesticide residues, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Keep sealed under nitrogen, cool and dark; refrigerate after opening. High ALA makes the oil oxidize fast once air gets in, so buy in container sizes that match usage. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, with peroxide and anisidine values retested on aged stock.
Health Canada's Fixed Oil Products - Oral monograph lists chia seed oil, from the seed of Salvia hispanica, as a permitted ingredient. That monograph requires the statement 'Refrigerate after opening' for products containing chia seed oil, except encapsulated products. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Salvia hispanica (POL-NF-00681) covers the seeds, seed oil and partially defatted seed powders and gives them the status authorised novel food.
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