The leading plants cultivated in Turkey and containing oil in their seeds are sunflower , cotton (rawberry), soybean, peanut, sesame, rapeseed, safflower , poppy, corn , flax and olive. Among these, seeds, poppy, flax and corn are not produced directly to obtain oil.
The two products that have the largest share in the production of oil crops are; cottonseed (used in the production of cottonseed oil) and sunflower. Therefore, oil production is mainly carried out on sunflower oil, seed oil and olive oil. Peanut oil and sesame oil are quality oils and are mostly used in the margarine industry. In addition, oil is obtained from corn, which cannot be mentioned here, and corn oil ranks third after sunflower and olive oil in consumption. However, the oil rate in corn varieties was only 7-8% as a result of scientific and breeding studies, which means that 7-8 kg of oil can be obtained from 100 kg of seeds economically. This rate rises to 45-48% in soybean.
In grocery stores, consumers see sunflower oil, corn oil, small amounts of soybean oil, hazelnut oil and olive oil. Rapeseed oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil do not appear in the markets.
Since the need for oil in our country is high and almost half of more than one third of the need is met by imports, the demand for oil deficit is met in different ways and oil prices are constantly increasing.
Although it exists in production, the seed oil, which is not seen in the markets for consumption, is mixed with other sunflower and corn oil oils and offered to consumers. Cotton or cottonseed oil is not actually a bad and poor quality oil. It can be used because it is based on vegetable oil. However, cottonseed oil is not suitable for direct use, as it is an intensely flavored oil and can be a heavy-smelling oil for the consumer. Therefore, it is not sold as cotton oil and is mixed with other oils in certain proportions. This mixing process happens especially with corn and sunflower oils.
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Another disadvantage of cottonseed oil is that it contains 20% of saturated fat. Similarly, the saturated fat content of hazelnut oil is not as high as cottonseed oil.
Fats containing large amounts of Oleic and Linoleic unsaturated fatty acids; sunflower oil, olive oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil and hazelnut oil. Soybean oil is the leading oil containing linolenic unsaturated fatty acids. In terms of consumption, sunflower oil with high linoleic unsaturated fat content should be preferred, especially in frying. All meals can be used. However, especially in salads, olive oil may be preferred in terms of taste and aroma, but it is better for health to consume olive oil in excess, provided that it is not exaggerated.
Therefore, as in many products where the need cannot be met by domestic production, such as cooking oil, production methods and applications are made that will ring the alarm bells for the consumer.
Cotton oil is added to sunflower oil, maybe even hazelnut oil is mixed. Cotton oil is also added to corn oil.
If it is committed to the consumer as sunflower oil, sunflower oil should be sold. The main problem in agriculture and food actually emerges from this point.
In cases where food is scarce or insufficient, such practices emerge, and as a result of this situation, milk with antibiotics, carboy water with detergent, old cheeses being melted and sold as melting-toast cheese, such as cheddar; Tomorrow, I don't know, there may be yoghurt or egg or fruit juice with drug residues or an apple or pear or cherry that has been sprayed 20 times.
Therefore, every practice that is hidden from the public or hidden from the public in agricultural production will cause us to face more food insecurity problems. As a result, Turkey can meet its own edible oil needs with the right oil crops production and support policy.
Sources
Ercan ÖZKAYNAK