Evening primrose oil
Evening primrose oil is extracted from the small seeds of the evening primrose plant (Oenothera biennis). It is made by cold pressing or by solvent extraction followed by refining. It is valued for its gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) content alongside a large share of linoleic acid. Brands usually buy it as refined oil for softgels, often standardized to a stated GLA percentage.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Refined, deodorized oil sold with a minimum GLA level, the usual softgel grade.
Mechanically pressed oil with less processing, at a higher price.
Oil from certified organic seed.
Oil supplied with added vitamin E or other tocopherols for encapsulation.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Store sealed in airtight containers, protected from light, in a cool place. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, and peroxide value is retested before using older stock.
GLA content varies with seed crop, so record the actual GLA figure for each lot and confirm it meets your label. Keep supplier statements on extraction method if you market cold-pressed oil.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's evening primrose oil monograph lists the seed of Oenothera biennis as the source material.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The same monograph allows products standardized to 7-14% GLA and/or 65-85% linoleic acid.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · Saskatoon, Canada
Canadian supplier of plant and marine oils, coconut and MCT oils, seeds and proteins in bulk and finished formats for food, supplement and pet nutrition brands.
Manufacturer · Deerfield, IL
US oleochemical producer whose personal care unit (which absorbed Jeen International) sources, blends and refines natural oils and butters in cosmetic, food and pharma grades, and makes glycerin.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include refined oil, cold-pressed, organic and stabilized softgel grade. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect gLA and fatty acid profile, free fatty acids and peroxide value, residual solvents and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Store sealed in airtight containers, protected from light, in a cool place. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, and peroxide value is retested before using older stock.
Health Canada's evening primrose oil monograph lists the seed of Oenothera biennis as the source material. The same monograph allows products standardized to 7-14% GLA and/or 65-85% linoleic acid.
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