Why It's Illegal To Bring Mustard Oil Into The U.S.

While mustard oil is a key ingredient in several cuisines, it is illegal in the U.S., Canada, and EU countries because it contains a fatty acid called erucic acid.

Agencies like the FDA accept erucic acid in lower amounts in food, but the higher concentration of it in mustard oil is why the authorities have implemented the ban.

Erucic acid has been linked to an increase in deposits of fat in the heart muscles of some animals like rats; however, there's no scientific confirmation that it can hurt humans.

Therefore, it seems that the ban on mustard oil stems from agencies like the FDA being ultra cautious, rather than from any firm proof that erucic acid is harmful to humans.