Why Did Refined Oils Come into the Market? | Chemical Extraction vs Natural Cold Pressing

 

🌿 Introduction

Ever wondered why refined oils dominate supermarket shelves, while natural cold-pressed oils are still relatively niche? If oil can be extracted naturally using traditional wooden or cold-pressed methods, why do companies rely on chemical extraction and refining?

Let’s explore the history, science, and economics of oil extraction—and why refined oils became common, even though natural oils are better for health.

🏭 History: Why Did Refined Oils Enter the Market?

The rise of refined oils began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries during the industrial revolution. As populations grew and food processing scaled up, manufacturers needed:

• Longer shelf life
• Cheaper production
• Higher yield from raw material
• Neutral taste and smell

Natural oils like wooden-pressed sesame, groundnut, or mustard oil had shorter shelf lives and were costlier to produce at scale. So began the chemical refining era.

⚗️ The Science Behind Chemical Extraction

Refined oils are typically extracted using chemical solvents, mainly hexane, a petroleum by-product.

💥 Extraction Process:

• Seeds are crushed and heated to 100–150°C.
• Hexane is added to dissolve the oil.
• Oil is separated, then refined through:

1. Degumming
2. Neutralization (caustic soda)
3. Bleaching (activated clay)
4. Deodorization (steam distillation at 200–250°C)

🧪 Scientific Note: Hexane has a boiling point of ~69°C and is highly effective for extracting up to 97–99% of oil from seeds — more than what natural pressing methods can achieve (typically 60–70%).

❌ Problems with Refined Oils

While refining increases shelf life and clarity, it also removes:

• Natural antioxidants (Vitamin E, polyphenols)
• Phytonutrients
• Essential fatty acids

And worse, it introduces:

1. Chemical residues (hexane traces)
2. Trans fats (from high heat)
3. RBD oils (Refined, Bleached, Deodorized) are stripped of nutritional value.

Studies have shown that regular consumption of highly processed oils may contribute to:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Inflammation
• Hormonal imbalance
• Obesity

🌿 Why Cold-Pressed or Wooden-Pressed Oils Are Better

Cold-pressed (or Lakdi Ghani in India) oils are extracted at room temperature (below 45°C) without chemicals.

✅ Nutrients retained:

1. Vitamin E
2. Omega fatty acids
3. Natural flavor & aroma
4. Antioxidants

✅ Scientifically proven benefits:

1. Support for heart health
2. Lower inflammation
3. Better digestion & skin health
4. No chemical residues

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💰 Economics Behind Refined Oils

Aspect	Refined Oil	Cold Pressed Oil
Yield (%)	97–99% (with hexane)	60–70%
Cost of Production	Low (industrial scale, fast)	High (small batch, slow process)
Shelf Life	12–18 months	4–6 months (natural spoilage)
Nutritional Value	Low (destroyed in refining)	High (nutrients preserved)
Taste & Aroma	Neutral	Natural taste of seed/nut

Refined oil makes more business sense for large companies. But from a consumer health perspective, cold-pressed oil wins.

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🔍 Conclusion

Refined oils came into the market due to economic and industrial demands, not health needs. The use of chemical solvents and extreme heat made oil extraction faster and cheaper—but at the cost of nutritional value.

Thanks to growing awareness, more people are returning to cold-pressed, wooden ghani oils, which preserve the true essence, flavor, and health benefits of natural seeds.