The Rapeseed Oil Problem—Why No One Seems to Care

Rapeseed oil. It’s everywhere. Almost every supermarket product—from a simple pack of olives to loaves of bread and countless snacks—contains it. Restaurants, pubs, takeaways… they all use it. The average pub reportedly goes through around 18 litres of rapeseed oil just to cook their food. Whether you’re eating Chinese, Indian, Italian, or British cuisine, chances are, rapeseed oil is in your meal.

But why?

We live in a world of subliminal messaging, and even the name rape seed is an unsettling choice. The term itself suggests something unnatural, something forced—an oil that isn’t really an oil at all. It’s classified as a vegetable oil, yet it’s not even derived from a vegetable. And while many people suffer from ongoing health issues, few stop to question what they’re consuming daily. Instead, they attribute their struggles to bad luck, genetics, or unexplained ailments rather than examining the food industry’s grip on their diet.

The Disappearance of Coconut Oil

Something else that struck me was the sudden disappearance of coconut oil from most supermarket shelves. Around the time Britain left the EU—coined as Brexit—I noticed a sharp decline in its availability. Coconut oil was one of the last true natural products you could find everywhere. It was incredibly versatile: you could eat it, cook with it, brush your teeth with it, even heal your skin with it. Now? The only place I consistently see it stocked is Sainsbury’s.

Am I Overthinking This?

For years, I’ve spoken about this issue to different people, but it feels like I’m hitting a brick wall. When I bring it up, I’m dismissed—branded as misinformed or just crazy. Even when I walk around supermarkets, struggling to find food without rapeseed oil, society seems indifferent.

So now, whenever I’m asked the common question “Do you have any allergies?” I say: “Yes, rapeseed oil.” Most people don’t know how to respond. It’s not officially recognized as an allergen, so restaurant staff have to sift through their ingredients just to figure out if they can accommodate my request. Some don’t even bother to check.

It feels like Britain’s food supply was poisoned and corrupted the moment we left Europe, and no one seems to care.

What Can Be Done?

I wish I had the solution. Maybe I should stop worrying about the bigger picture and just focus on what I eat personally. But avoiding rapeseed oil isn’t just inconvenient—it’s nearly impossible unless you actively hunt down alternatives.

So, I’m putting this out there: if anyone has ideas, I’m listening. Maybe I’m overthinking, maybe I need to let it go—but I’m struggling to ignore it, and it’s becoming harder and harder to accept.

What do you think? Is this a problem, or am I worrying too much?

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Rapeseed oil - Wikipedia

Solvent - Wikipedia

A mix of other perspectives

Health Risks:

• WebMD article on rapeseed oil – Covers both benefits and possible downsides, including concerns about genetic modification and processing methods.
• Verywell Health article – Discusses rapeseed oil’s nutritional profile, potential health benefits, and downsides.
• British Heart Foundation article – Addresses past concerns about erucic acid and inflammation risks.

Environmental Impact:

• The Ecologist article – Explores the environmental consequences of rapeseed oil production, including deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
• MDPI study – A scientific life cycle assessment of rapeseed oil production in Northern Europe, analyzing its environmental footprint.
• University of Nottingham study – Examines greenhouse gas emissions from vegetable oil production, including rapeseed oil.