Does the sesame oil in your kitchen bottle say "pure" on the front? Is the ingredient list on the back simply "edible sesame oil"? I checked the original text on the official websites of eight companies selling sesame oil: Kadoya Sesame Oil, J-Oil Mills (Ajinomoto), Nisshin Oillio, Takemoto Oil (Maruhon), Kuki Sangyo, Iwai Sesame Oil, Aeon (Topvalu), and Yamada Sesame Oil. Five companies clearly stated that their oil is "extracted without the use of solvents." None of the three major companies familiar to supermarkets made this statement. Furthermore, Kadoya Sesame Oil, the number one sesame oil producer in Japan, explains in its "Frequently Asked Questions" section that it blends oil extracted and refined with solvents into its "pure sesame oil." Hexane, a solvent used in the extraction of edible oil, is described in government documents as "a component of petroleum and natural gas." However, this is not written on the label. While overseas, safety limits are set with numerical figures and products are being re-examined, in Japan, they are readily available on shelves. The government says they are "safe." So why isn't Japan considered dangerous? This video poses that question.

The worst 8 are: Ajinomoto's "Pure Sesame Oil for Sesame Oil Lovers," Nisshin Oillio's "Nisshin Pure Aromatic Sesame Oil," "Pure Sesame Oil for Flavoring," "Healthy Sesame Oil," and "Healthy Sesame Oil with Sesamin Plus," Ajinomoto's "Roasted Sesame Flavoring Oil" and "Sesame Oil with Flaxseed Oil," and Kadoya Sesame Oil's "Gold Seal Pure Sesame Oil." The order isn't based on preference, but mechanically determined by three criteria: ① what the manufacturer officially states about oil extracted with solvents, ② whether other oils are mixed in besides sesame oil, and ③ whether the origin of the sesame is officially indicated. In the gray area is Topvalu's "Pure Sesame Oil" (a cheap private brand product that claims to be "extracted without using any solvents"). The top 3 genuine products are limited to those that officially state they are solvent-free, contain no additives, and disclose the origin of the sesame and the manufacturing location. Yamada Oil's "First Press Sesame Oil," Maruhon's "Cold-Pressed Pure Sesame Oil," and Kuki's "First Press Pure Sesame Oil."

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▼ Chapters
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00:00 Does the sesame oil in your kitchen say "pure"?
01:43 Three measuring sticks
03:06 8th Place: Ajinomoto - They list the origin, but not the manufacturing method
04:21 "Domestically Produced" is not the origin of the sesame seeds
04:58 6th Place: Nissin - Why "pressed" alone doesn't tell you everything
06:27 Pressing and Extraction - Manufacturing methods not written on the label
07:28 Solvent Hexane - According to national documents, "a component of petroleum and natural gas"
08:56 The EU limits it to "up to 1mg per 1kg of oil," and the evaluation needs to be redone
10:23 2nd Place: Sesame oil labeled "Edible Blended Oil"
12:25 1st Place: Kadoya "Gold Seal Pure Sesame Oil"
13:57 "Pure" doesn't refer to the manufacturing method
15:20 Why doesn't Japan consider it dangerous?
16:00 Insecticide found in sesame-producing regions that the EU stopped using in 2020
18:12 Gray Zone - Cheap private label products "use no solvents whatsoever"
19:10 Top 3 Authentic Products
22:26 Summary
23:21 Three Golden Rules for Choosing Sesame Oil

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Reduce the amount you "eat without knowing" one by one.

Handling overseas and handling in Japan (as covered in this video)
・Hexane (extraction solvent for edible oils): The EU allows its use, but has legally set the amount that can remain in the oil at "1 mg per 1 kg". The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in 2024 that a "reassessment of safety is necessary" (the previous assessment was in 1996, due to the possibility of higher-than-expected ingestion by infants, toddlers, and children). The reassessment began in 2025. Japanese regulations stipulate "removal before the final food product is completed," and labeling as a processing aid is exempt.

Chlorpyrifos (insecticide): The EU did not renew its approval in 2020. In February 2026, Japan issued an inspection order after finding it in Tanzanian sesame seeds during import inspections, and banned its use domestically in July 2026.

Is it really okay just because the government says it's "safe"? This channel continues to pose that question.

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📌 Let us know in the comments:
Does your sesame oil label say "cold-pressed"? Was the name listed as "Edible Sesame Oil" or "Edible Blended Oil"?
Which do you think is better: defining it numerically like in the EU, or defining it as "removable" like in Japan? Please also tell us which food you'd like us to investigate next.

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Welcome to "Eating Without Knowing"
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💡 This channel investigates food products from supermarkets, convenience stores, and drugstores based ...