1503 – Castor Oil
Description: Natural oil extracted from the seeds of Ricinus communis (castor bean) . Castor oil is a flavour component as well as a solvent for flavours.
Products: Flavoured sugar, lip products, etc.
Side effects: None known when used in foods.
Castor oil is a vegetable oil obtained from the castor bean (technically castor seed as the castor plant, Ricinus communis, is not a member of the bean family). Castor oil (CAS number 8001-79-4) is a colorless to very pale yellow liquid with mild or no odor or taste. Its boiling point is 313 °C (595 °F) and its density is 961 kg·m-3. It is a triglyceride in which approximately ninety percent of fatty acid chains are ricinoleic acid. Oleic and linoleic acids are the other significant components.
