On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:27:51 +0200, Victor Sack wrote:

> Sqwertz > wrote:
>
>> I did my semi-annual pilgrimage to the Indian foods store and picked
>> up some supplies. One item is mustard oil. When I look more
>> closely at the bottle, it says:
>>
>> "For massage use only".
>
> From the rfc FAQ:
>
> MUSTARD OIL - This spicy oil is extensively used in Bengali and some
> other Indian cuisines. It is said that it is very hard, if not
> impossible, to find good quality mustard oil outside of India. In the
> 'Western' countries, mustard oil is required to be sold with a "for
> external use only" warning, since it contains allyl isothiocyanate and
> erucic acid, both of which have been implicated in some health problems.
> (This entry is based on Shankar Bhattacharyya's postings)

The Wiki page on Mustard Oil says something similar. The jury is
still out on the heath effects.

-sw