Linseed Oil End Use, Processing and Lot Evidence

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-16Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Market value

$1.2B

Producing countries tracked

11

Grading systems

1

Active supply risks

5

Trade corridors

5

Latest reviewed evidence

Codex CXS 210-1999 defines edible flaxseed or linseed oil as derived from cultivated Linum usitatissimum seed. Its appendix lists relative density from 0.925 to 0.935 at 25 degrees Celsius, refractive index from 1.472 to 1.487 at 20 degrees Celsius, saponification value from 185 to 197 milligrams KOH per gram, iodine value from 170 to 211 and unsaponifiable matter no more than 20 grams per kilogram. ISO 150:2018 separately covers raw, refined and boiled linseed oils for paints and varnishes, while ISO 276:2019 covers five stand-oil types. These are scope and identity boundaries, not results for an untested lot, current supply or live price.

Codex flaxseed or linseed oil relative-density lower bound

0.925

relative density at 25 degrees Celsius over water at 25 degrees Celsius · CXS 210-1999, amended through 2021

Codex flaxseed or linseed oil relative-density upper bound

0.935

relative density at 25 degrees Celsius over water at 25 degrees Celsius · CXS 210-1999, amended through 2021

Codex flaxseed or linseed oil refractive-index lower bound

1.472

refractive index at 20 degrees Celsius · CXS 210-1999, amended through 2021

Codex flaxseed or linseed oil refractive-index upper bound

1.487

refractive index at 20 degrees Celsius · CXS 210-1999, amended through 2021

Codex flaxseed or linseed oil saponification-value lower bound

185

milligrams KOH per gram of oil · CXS 210-1999, amended through 2021

Codex flaxseed or linseed oil saponification-value upper bound

197

milligrams KOH per gram of oil · CXS 210-1999, amended through 2021

Codex flaxseed or linseed oil iodine-value lower bound

170

iodine value · CXS 210-1999, amended through 2021

Codex flaxseed or linseed oil iodine-value upper bound

211

iodine value · CXS 210-1999, amended through 2021

Codex flaxseed or linseed oil unsaponifiable-matter ceiling

20

grams per kilogram, maximum · CXS 210-1999, amended through 2021

Edible flaxseed oil and industrial linseed binders are separate lanes

Codex CXS 210 applies to named vegetable oils presented for human consumption and identifies flaxseed or linseed oil by its Linum usitatissimum seed source. ISO 150 instead covers raw, refined and boiled linseed oils for paints and varnishes, and ISO 276 covers linseed stand oil as a binder in that same industrial field. Atlas records intended food, feed, coating, binder or other use and the exact governing specification; an industrial oil must not inherit an edible-food claim, and a food-grade observation must not be used as evidence of paint-binder performance.

Crude, virgin, cold-pressed, refined, boiled and stand oils stay explicit

Codex distinguishes virgin and cold-pressed oils from refined oils through the permitted production and purification treatments. ISO separately names raw, refined, boiled and stand oils for paints and varnishes. Atlas retains pressing or solvent extraction, refining steps, heat or oxidative treatment, polymerisation, additives or driers, blend status, intended use and specification edition. Product-form words carry processing meaning and cannot be collapsed into a generic linseed-oil label.

Identity constants require named temperatures, methods and lots

Codex's density, refractive-index, saponification, iodine and unsaponifiable-matter ranges are identity and purity characteristics, with temperature and method context. ISO 729 separately specifies determination of oilseed acidity. Atlas preserves analyte, result and basis, temperature, method and edition, sample and lot, laboratory, certificate, uncertainty or detection limit where relevant and test date. A range in a standard is not proof that an offered lot was sampled, tested or found conforming.

A standard range does not establish a delivered linseed-oil price

Codex identity constants and ISO industrial product scopes do not establish oxidation status, peroxide or acid value, colour, odour, drying performance, additive package, food-safety status, present availability, transaction value, freight or destination cost for a current lot. A delivered comparison still needs permitted current observations for the exact use and form, specification and test evidence, package, origin, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window, route costs and information vintage. Atlas withholds a physical estimate when those observations or usage rights are missing.

Questions procurement teams ask

Are edible flaxseed oil and boiled linseed oil interchangeable?

No. Codex covers flaxseed or linseed oil presented for human consumption, while ISO 150 covers raw, refined and boiled linseed oils for paints and varnishes. Their use, processing and evidence requirements differ.

Is linseed stand oil just another name for food-grade oil?

No. ISO 276 defines a separate industrial binder scope and five stand-oil types for paints and varnishes. Atlas keeps that lane separate from edible oil.

Does an iodine value inside the Codex range prove a lot is food grade?

No. It is one identity characteristic. Food-grade conformance still needs the applicable specification, representative lot sampling, the named method, other quality and safety results, processing evidence and a certificate tied to the shipment.

Which fields make linseed-oil offers comparable?

Intended food, feed or industrial use, Linum usitatissimum seed and origin, crude, virgin, cold-pressed, refined, boiled, stand or blended form, extraction and treatment, additives, density and temperature, refractive index and temperature, saponification and iodine values, unsaponifiable matter, acidity and oxidation evidence where applicable, package and lot, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.