Hemp seed oil in the UK: what it is, how to use it and where to buy
Hemp seed oil is a culinary oil cold-pressed from hemp seeds. Around three quarters or more of its fatty acids are polyunsaturated, mostly linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3), so most makers recommend using it cold and keeping it in the fridge once opened. It is not CBD oil, and the Food Standards Agency lists it as a food that is not novel.
On this page
Hemp seed oil is a culinary oil. This page covers the food-grade, cold-pressed oil sold in the UK: what it is, what is in it, how to use and store it, and who presses it from British hemp. Legal points are stated as of October 2026.
What is hemp seed oil?
Hemp seed oil is the oil pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). The culinary version is cold-pressed and unrefined. Clearspring describes the method as pressing the seed without outside heat or chemicals, then filtering the oil instead of heat-treating it.
Cold pressing leaves chlorophyll from the seed in the oil, according to the Nutrients review cited below. Makers describe the taste as nutty.
Labels use “hemp seed oil”, “hempseed oil” and “hemp oil” for this product. The last of those is also used loosely for CBD products, which is where confusion starts.
Hemp seed oil is not CBD oil
Hemp seed oil comes from the seed and is a food. CBD oil is made from CBD extract and falls under different rules.
The Food Standards Agency’s CBD guidance draws the line clearly. Products made by selectively extracting CBD from any part of the hemp plant are CBD extracts and are classed as novel foods. Hemp seed oil is on the list of hemp-derived foods that are not novel.
If a bottle lists a CBD content in milligrams, it is not plain hemp seed oil. The full comparison is in hemp oil vs CBD oil.
What fatty acids does it contain?
Hemp seed oil is mostly polyunsaturated fat. A 2020 review in the journal Nutrients (Farinon and colleagues) collected the fatty acid profiles reported across hemp varieties and studies:
| Fatty acid | Type | Share of total fatty acids |
|---|---|---|
| Linoleic acid (LA) | Omega-6, polyunsaturated | about 52-59% |
| Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) | Omega-3, polyunsaturated | about 10-22% |
| Oleic acid | Omega-9, monounsaturated | about 9-19% |
| Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) | Omega-6, polyunsaturated | about 0.6-6% |
| Stearidonic acid (SDA) | Omega-3, polyunsaturated | about 0.2-2% |
| Saturated fatty acids (mainly palmitic) | Saturated | about 12% or less |
The review puts total polyunsaturated fat at 72-81% in most studies and the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio at roughly 2.5:1 to 5.5:1. It also notes that variety, growing conditions and harvest year shift these numbers noticeably.
A UK label fits inside those ranges. Good Hemp’s Original Hemp Seed Oil declares the following per 100 g (read on 9 October 2026):
| Per 100 g | Good Hemp Original Hemp Seed Oil |
|---|---|
| Energy | 900 kcal |
| Fat | 100 g |
| of which saturates | 9.4 g |
| of which monounsaturates | 12.7 g |
| of which polyunsaturates | 77.9 g |
| Omega-3 | 18.6 g |
| Omega-6 | 57.7 g |
| Omega-9 | 12.3 g |
| GLA | 3.3 g |
The oil also contains tocopherols (vitamin E compounds). The review reports about 56 to over 90 mg per 100 g of oil, mostly as gamma-tocopherol, depending on how the oil is extracted.
These are composition figures. What the evidence does and does not show about health effects is covered in hemp seed oil benefits.
How to use hemp seed oil
Use hemp seed oil cold, as a dressing or finishing oil. That is what most makers recommend:
| Maker | What the product page says about heat |
|---|---|
| Clearspring | “Recommended for cold use only” |
| Hempen | Not recommended for frying or deep-frying; heating above 120 °C affects its nutrients |
| Nutiva (US) | Not suitable for frying; use raw or gently heated |
| Good Hemp | Suggests drizzling on salads, and also cooking with it for roast potatoes |
So the advice is not unanimous, but the cautious reading is to keep it out of the frying pan. The Nutrients review gives the underlying reason: the unsaturated fatty acids in hemp seed oil are highly susceptible to oxidation. The review does not give a smoke point, and this page does not quote one.
Cold uses suggested on UK product pages:
- Drizzled over salads, soups and pasta
- Whisked into dressings, dips and pesto
- Blended into smoothies
- Poured over a finished warm dish at the table
How to store it
Store hemp seed oil cool and dark, and in the fridge once opened. The British Hemp Co. oil sold by Abel & Cole carries exactly that instruction. Hempen says its oil is best stored in the fridge or a dark cupboard.
Light matters as much as heat. The Nutrients review notes that cold-pressed oil holds more chlorophyll, which it links to photooxidation and a shorter shelf life.
Follow the best-before date and any “use within” period on your bottle.
Is hemp seed oil legal in the UK?
Yes. As of October 2026, hemp seed oil is sold as an ordinary food and needs no novel food authorisation. Section 1.1 of the FSA guidance (last updated 28 August 2026) lists “hemp seeds: this includes hemp seed oil, ground hemp seeds and partially defatted hemp seeds” as non-novel, because a history of consumption has been shown.
Section 1.2 says other hemp-derived products are likely to be novel unless significant consumption in the EU before 15 May 1997 can be demonstrated. CBD extracts are in that novel group.
Growing hemp is licensed separately. The Home Office factsheet (updated 18 December 2025) says a licence is required to cultivate hemp, that approved varieties must have no more than 0.2% THC, and that only the seeds and fibre may be used. Buying the oil needs no licence.
This is a summary of published guidance, not legal advice.
UK growers and pressers
At least two UK companies press oil from British-grown hemp seed, and a third well-known brand is based on a Devon farm. Details below are as stated on each company’s own pages on 9 October 2026.
| Company | Where | What its page states |
|---|---|---|
| The British Hemp Company (UK Hemp Ltd) | Factory Lane, Warminster, Wiltshire | All hemp grown and processed in the UK; oil pressed at its Warminster factory. Its own shop showed the oil as out of stock, but Abel & Cole and Holland & Barrett listed it for sale. |
| Hempen | Goring Heath, Oxfordshire | Organic oil, cold-pressed from whole seed, ingredients “100% British Isles Agriculture”. Out of stock on its own shop on the day checked. |
| Good Hemp (Braham & Murray) | Collabear Farm, near Barnstaple, North Devon | Cold-pressed hemp seed oil. The product page does not state where the seed is grown. |
Not every bottle on a UK shelf is British. Clearspring, for example, states that its organic oil is made from European-grown seed and packed in the UK. If origin matters, look for it on the label.
The seeds themselves are covered in shelled hemp seeds.
Where to buy hemp seed oil in the UK
- Good Hemp: Original Hemp Seed Oil 500 mlBrand's own shop. Cold-pressed hemp seed oil from Braham & Murray Good Hemp, based near Barnstaple, North Devon.
- Abel & Cole: Cold Pressed Hemp Seed Oil, British Hemp Co. 500 mlDelivery grocer. The page describes the oil as made from British-grown hemp seed at the producer's factory in Warminster.
- Holland & Barrett: The British Hemp Co Cold Pressed Hemp Seed Oil 500 mlHigh-street health food chain, online product page.
- Clearspring: Organic Hemp Oil 250 mlBrand's own shop. Organic, cold-pressed, from European-grown seed, packed in the UK.
- Real Foods: Biona Organic Cold Pressed Hemp Seed Oil 250 mlWholefood retailer with Edinburgh stores. Organic, cold-pressed and unrefined.
Listed for convenience. This site is not paid by these companies and does not sell anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is hemp seed oil the same as CBD oil?
No. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds and is sold as a food. CBD oil is made from CBD extract, which the Food Standards Agency classes as a novel food. See hemp oil vs CBD oil.
Is hemp seed oil legal in the UK?
Yes. The Food Standards Agency's CBD guidance (updated 28 August 2026) lists hemp seeds, including hemp seed oil, among hemp-derived foods that are not novel. It can be sold as an ordinary food. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can you cook with hemp seed oil?
Most makers say to use it cold. Clearspring labels its oil "recommended for cold use only", Hempen says it is not recommended for frying, and Nutiva says its oil is not suitable for frying. Good Hemp is an exception and suggests roasting potatoes with its oil.
What fatty acids are in hemp seed oil?
A 2020 review in the journal *Nutrients* reports linoleic acid (omega-6) at about 52-59% of fatty acids and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) at about 10-22%, with smaller amounts of oleic, gamma-linolenic and stearidonic acids. Saturated fat is about 12% or less.
How should hemp seed oil be stored?
Keep it away from heat and light. The British Hemp Co. oil sold by Abel & Cole says to store it in a cool, dark place and in the fridge once opened. Hempen says its oil is best stored in the fridge or a dark cupboard.
Is any hemp seed oil made from British hemp?
Yes. The British Hemp Company in Warminster, Wiltshire says all its hemp is grown and processed in the UK. Hempen in Oxfordshire lists its oil as 100% British Isles agriculture.
Why is hemp seed oil green?
Cold-pressed hemp seed oil keeps chlorophyll from the seed. The 2020 *Nutrients* review notes that cold pressing gives an oil with more chlorophyll, which it links to light-driven oxidation and a shorter shelf life.
Sources
- Food Standards Agency: Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance, sections 1.1 and 1.2 (updated 28 August 2026)
- Farinon B. et al. (2020), The Seed of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): Nutritional Quality and Potential Functionality for Human Health and Nutrition. Nutrients 12(7):1935
- Home Office: Industrial hemp licensing factsheet (updated 18 December 2025)
- Good Hemp: Original Hemp Seed Oil 500 ml (label nutrition)
- Clearspring: Organic Hemp Oil 250 ml (cold use, seed origin)
- Hempen: Organic Hemp Seed Oil, Extra Virgin (storage, heat, origin)
- Abel & Cole: Cold Pressed Hemp Seed Oil, British Hemp Co. (origin, storage)
- The British Hemp Company (UK Hemp Ltd): Cold Pressed Hemp Seed Oil
- Nutiva: Organic Hemp Seed Oil (heat and storage advice)