Hemp Foods and Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp seed oil is a food oil, not CBD oil

Hemp seeds come from the same plant species as marijuana (Cannabis sativa), but they are a different thing to buy and eat. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the seeds do not naturally contain THC or CBD. [1] Plants with only tiny amounts of THC are called hemp, and NIDA notes that hemp is mainly used for textile fiber and for its edible seed oils. [2]

That is why "hemp seed oil" and "CBD oil" should not be mixed up. CBD products are a separate category with their own rules, covered in CBD products and how to read a label. For the plant itself, see hemp vs marijuana.

Evidence labels used here: approved medicine, established, promising but limited (a few small human studies), insufficient evidence, and marketing claim.

Hemp Foods

In December 2018 the FDA completed its review of three notices about hemp seed ingredients for human food: hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder and hemp seed oil. [1] The agency had no questions about the company's conclusion that the described uses are safe, so these ingredients can be legally sold in foods in the US when they meet other requirements. [1] Products that contain them must name them on the ingredient list. [1]

The FDA also says these seed ingredients hold only trace amounts of THC and CBD, which the seeds may pick up during harvesting and processing. [1] This is a statement about the three reviewed ingredients as described in those notices, not about every product with "hemp" on the label.

What human research exists on hemp foods is thin:

• Hemp seed protein and blood pressure: promising but limited. One double-blind crossover trial gave 35 adults with mild high blood pressure hemp protein, hemp protein plus added peptides, or casein protein over separate periods. The authors reported lower 24-hour blood pressure after the hemp options and suggested hemp protein may have a role in diet management of hypertension. [3] It is a single small trial, so it needs repeating before anyone should rely on it.
• Everyday nutrition claims: insufficient evidence in the sources we read. We did not find systematic reviews of hemp foods for general health, and we do not give nutrient numbers we could not verify.

For protein comparisons, see plant protein powders. For other seeds eaten as foods, see flaxseed and chia seeds.

Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp seed oil is described in research as rich in polyunsaturated fats, particularly linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. [4] Fat types are explained in omega fatty acids explained.

What has been tested in people:

• Children with high blood fats: insufficient evidence. A small randomized pilot in 36 children and teenagers with primary hyperlipidemia found that eight weeks of hempseed oil changed the fatty-acid makeup of red blood cells but did not affect the lipid profile. [4] A change in a blood marker is not the same as better health.
• Applied to the skin for knee osteoarthritis: promising but limited. A randomized trial of 90 patients compared topical hemp seed oil, diclofenac gel and placebo. Pain and function scores were better with hemp seed oil than placebo, though knee flexion range was not. [5] This tested a skin product, not oil eaten as food, and it is one trial.

Quality: trace THC can show up in oils

A laboratory study measured 16 cannabinoids in 30 commercial hemp seed edible oils. Three samples exceeded the European Union maximum for THC equivalents in hemp seed oil. [6] This was a European sample of oils, so it does not tell us the level in any particular product here. It does show why batch testing matters; see certificates of analysis.

Who should check first

Hemp seed ingredients are legal foods in the US, but the FDA separately says THC and CBD cannot be added to foods or sold as dietary supplements. [1] If you take prescription medicines, have liver disease, or are pregnant, ask your clinician or pharmacist before adding a new concentrated oil. For general product safety, see supplement quality and contamination.

Laws differ by country and change over time, and this page is not legal advice.