Tag: Lecithin extraction

Lecithin is a naturally occurring fatty substance present in the cells of all plants and animals, including sunflowers. The question "is sunflower lecithin artificial?" is commonly asked by those seeking cleaner food labels and natural alternatives to synthetic additives.

Lecithin was first isolated from egg yolk in 1845 by chemist Theodore Gobley. Knowing how to make lecithin is understanding the journey of this versatile emulsifier from its natural source, primarily derived as a byproduct of crude oil refining, into a useful food and nutritional ingredient.

Commercial soy lecithin is a complex mixture containing 65-75% phospholipids, which gives it its unique emulsifying properties. So, what is soy lecithin made out of and how is this common food additive extracted from soybeans during the oil refining process?

Sunflower lecithin, a fatty substance found naturally in plant and animal tissues, is most often derived from the seeds of sunflowers. This natural emulsifier is created during the process of oil extraction from sunflower seeds using a gentle, solvent-free cold-press method, unlike many other forms of lecithin.

According to manufacturers and suppliers, hexane-free sunflower lecithin is now widely available, offering a 'clean-label' alternative to conventionally processed ingredients. However, whether a particular product contains hexane depends entirely on its extraction method, with mechanical processing avoiding the chemical entirely. This shift reflects growing consumer demand for transparency and natural food production.

Lecithin, first isolated from egg yolks in 1845, is a natural phospholipid mixture found in various plant and animal sources. Its extraction is a crucial process in the food and pharmaceutical industries, where it is valued for its emulsifying, stabilizing, and nutritional properties. Today, commercial lecithin is primarily sourced from soybeans, sunflowers, and egg yolks, with each source requiring a specific extraction methodology.

Globally, there are no commercially available varieties of genetically modified sunflowers, a key distinction for consumers examining their dietary choices. This fact confirms that sunflower lecithin, derived from sunflower seeds, is inherently a non-GMO product.