What about corn oil?

Abstract

PLANT LOCATIONS 3 Golden corn oil sitting on the pantry shelf often serves as the most visible sign of the corn refining industry to most Ameri-cans. Although corn oil represents a relatively modest amount of all food ingredients produced by corn refiners, its household use reminds consumers of the vast array of food and industrial products derived from our most abundant crop. Long the preferred food oil for discerning consumers, corn oil was limited in supply until recent years. The growth of corn refining over the last twenty years, has led to greater supplies of corn oil being available for domestic consumption while also contributing to the U.S. balance of trade through exports. The modern corn refining process creates various food and industrial starches, sweeteners, alcohols, oil, feed ingredients and bioproducts. Each offers an excellent example of the way we can add value to raw agricultural commodities. By doing so, we expand markets for U.S. farmers, increase employment through processing and provide a wide array of useful products to American industry and consumers. We hope you will find this booklet about corn oil useful. Please contact the Corn Refiners Association, if you would like more information on corn refining and its products. Audrae Erickson President Corn Refiners Association Readers are advised that the information and suggestions contained herein are general in nature and that specific technical questions should be referred to the Association or its member companies. Questions as to the price and/ or availability of products described should be directed to individual Association members. FOREWORD 4 INTRODUCTION As the corn refining industry expanded its product portfolio and processed more corn, the quantity of corn oil available increased dramatically. Corn oil has become an important item in the mix of products manufactured from America's most important crop, and is no longer thought of as simply another co-product of starch manufacture. Annual production of crude corn oil currently exceeds 2.4 billion pounds. Nearly all of it is refined into high-quality oil for the food industry and direct use by consumers. In the 1950s, medical researchers found that corn oil was effective in reducing serum cholesterol in humans. This research gave rise to an increased demand for corn oil that continues today. Corn refiners invested in research and development that has resulted in production of edible oils of consistently high quality. Concurrently, development of new and improved products using corn oil, many …