Manufacturers produce cottonseed oil from an agricultural waste product making it a cheap alternative to other edible oils. However, the process of making cottonseed oil poses problems for the mills where it's made, the workers who produce it and the people who consume it.
Toxins
Raw cottonseed oil contains gossypol, a natural toxin linked to infertility in humans. It also contains toxic pesticides and herbicides that growers are allowed to apply because cotton is not a food crop. To remove these harmful substances, oil manufacturers must treat the oil with lye, bleach it with clay and deodorize through a steam distillation process.
Occupational Safety
The Occupational Safety and Hazards Administration considers vegetable oil mist generated during manufacturing a potential health hazard for workers. Recent studies of cottonseed oil mills also found high levels of dust that threaten the health of employees. Mill owners need to properly ventilate workrooms and provide protective clothing if necessary.
Genetic Engineering
Some cotton is genetically engineered to resist insects and herbicides. These cotton crops also resists the antibiotic used to treat gonorrhea. Some scientists fear the bacteria that causes the disease will pick up the altered gene from plants, animal and people who work with it, making the gonorrhea untreatable. This possibility is a concern for oil manufactures who use genetically engineered seeds.
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