KTC mustard oil

KTC’s mustard oil will roll out from 1 September in a 1-litre bottle (rsp: £2.49)

Ingredients brand KTC is set to launch what it claims is the UK’s first lawfully edible mustard oil.

Mustard oil is a popular ingredient in cuisine such as Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani, but it is banned as a food product in the EU due to its high level of erucic acid, which is understood to have a toxic effect on the heart in high doses. When sold in the UK, mustard oil packs feature a ‘for external use only’ warning.

However, KTC’s mustard oil is made with a blend of rapeseed, reducing the erucic acid content to less than 5%. It had been cleared for food use by Trading Standards, KTC commercial director Paresh Mehta told The Grocer.

Mustard oil was “an important flavour for many Indian dishes”, he said. “So this new edible mustard oil is a welcome addition. It has the right vibrant yellow colour, flavour and pungency.”

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KTC Edible Mustard Oil Blend will roll out from 1 September in a 1-litre bottle (rsp: £2.49). It will feature as part of the brand’s tie-up with chef and meal kit maker Hari Ghotra, who is working on a downloadable cookbook “for people to use KTC products more effectively”.

She and the brand have also agreed a social media partnership and are working together on future food products.

Ghotra’s input would provide “inspiration, recipes, new products and more” KTC said. “We are very excited about our future plans together.”