Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions about Saffola's grown without pesticides program.

Q What is meant by "grown without pesticides"?
A "Grown without pesticides" means that no pesticides are used on the farm to grow the crop. In addition, pesticides are not used throughout harvesting, processing, and storage of the seed or oil.

Q How is the Saffola "grown without pesticides" standard validated?
A There are four levels of control to validate the standard.

(1) Each farmer gives a written statement of compliance both in their production contract and in their statement to the local county agricultural commissioner.

(2) Each grain company contracting for Saffola follows the crop throughout the growing season. Field personnel work with the farmers to ensure that the standard is followed.

(3) Field Crops Auditing (sm) of Davis, California independently inspects and reviews all aspects of the program, including every field and facility, following the crop from seed to harvesting to bottling. The verification assures the consumer that Saffola has lived up to its environmental promise.

(4) In addition, Saffola makes use of the State of California mandated Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) program to further substantiate the "grown without pesticides" compliance.

Saffola is harvested in early September

Q How does this differ from "organic"?
A Organic farming has a strict and complex definition, that varies from state to state; but organic production does allow use of certain organic pesticides, none of which are allowed in Saffola's "grown without pesticides" claim. Saffola's farming methods share one of the major goals of organic farming, to reduce environmental damage from chemical pesticides. And, since Saffola's farming is large-scale and highly productive, Saffola Oil does not carry the super-premium price of organic products.

Q How are pests and weeds kept from harming the safflower crop if pesticides are not applied?
A Saffola's farmers use a variety of methods to control damage to the crop. Some examples include: crop rotations that limit disease and weed build-up, innovative and conventional tillage practices; choosing crop varieties and developing new varieties that are better adapted to a pesticide-free production system; and choosing farm locations, field topography, and climate zones advantageous to pesticide-free production. In addition, time of planting, rate of seeding and control of irrigation play important roles. These methods may result in the risk of slightly lower yields per acre: however, Saffola believes that the social and ecological returns more than offset these factors.

Q What environmental benefits does Saffola® Oil "grown without pesticides" provide?
A Saffola's farming methods do not pollute the crop, soil, underground water or the air. In addition, farm workers are not exposed to any pesticides while working with Saffola "grown without pesticides" crops.

Safflower blooming in mid-summer

Q How is Saffola® Oil made?
A Saffola Oil is made from the seeds of the safflower plant. The plants (of the thistle family) are very hardy and drought resistant, with an aggressive tap root that can search up to 12 feet for water. The safflower plant can capture necessary moisture better than soybean, corn, and canola crops.

In the Western states, safflower is a favorite crop for rotation with field crops such as wheat, barley, and processing tomatoes. The West has the perfect climate for growing safflower due to the hot and dry summer months.

Safflower is planted from late January through early May and harvested from mid-August to mid-September. In early summer, the flowering thistles at the tops of the four foot plants produce brilliant yellow, orange, and gold blossoms. By mid-summer, these thistles become dry and turn brown in color. Combines mow the safflower fields at harvest time and separate the seeds from the plant. The seeds go through a crushing process where safflower oil is extracted. High protein meal remains after the safflower oil is removed. The meal is used for animal feed.

Q What are the nutritional benefits of Saffola® Oil?
A Saffola Oil is higher in monounsaturates than any leading vegetable oil and lower in saturates than soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil or olive oil. Monounsaturates have been shown to help lower cholesterol levels when used as part of a cholesterol-reducing diet. 1985 Study by Mattson & Grundy (Journal of Lipid Research 26:194 1985) demonstrated that a high monounsaturated diet was equally as effective as a high polyunsaturated diet in lowering undesirable LDL cholesterol; and, unlike the polyunsaturated diet, the monounsaturated diet conserved the desirable HDL-cholesterol. Like all vegetable oils, Saffola Oil is naturally cholesterol free.

Q How can Saffola® Oil be used?
A Saffola Oil is an all purpose cooking oil. Its light, clear color and mild, delicate flavor make it excellent for salads, sauteing, and baking. And because Saffola Oil is high in monounsaturates, it is extremely heat stable, excellent for frying, and can be used in place of any cooking oil.

Q What else is Saffola doing for the environment?
A Saffola has taken further steps with their packaging to provide an environmentally responsible product.

Saffola purchases plastic packaging from plastics suppliers that are taking part in voluntary recycling programs. All of Saffola's plastic packaging carries the triangular arrow recycling symbol on the bottom of each bottle. The new retail-size bottles are made of PET plastic and take up less shelf space, and require less packaging in their shipping cartons.