Food · Oils & fats
Rice Bran Oil
米油 (Komeyu)
Also known as: Komeyu, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
At a glance
| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Oryza Sativa Bran Oil (for cosmetic use) |
| Japanese labeling name | コメヌカ油 (for cosmetic labeling) |
| Common Japanese notations | 米油, コメ油, 米ぬか油 |
| Origin | Plant-derived (rice bran, byproduct of rice milling) |
| Typical functions | Culinary fat, Cosmetic emollient, Supplement ingredient (gamma-oryzanol source) |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Food oil regulated under the Food Sanitation Act. Cosmetic-grade Oryza Sativa Bran Oil is listed in the JSCI labeling name dictionary. |
Rice bran oil — komeyu — is the oil extracted from the pericarp and germ fractions of rice (rice bran, the byproduct of polishing). It is one of the few major culinary oils produced domestically in Japan at scale, and it is valued both for its high smoke point and for its natural gamma-oryzanol content. The same raw material also produces a cosmetic-grade oil used in skincare formulations.
Classification
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Product applications
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Tempura and deep-frying oil
- Table / finishing oil
- Cosmetic formulations
What it is
Rice bran oil is extracted from rice bran by solvent extraction (for most food-grade volumes) or expeller pressing. The fatty acid profile is roughly balanced between saturated and mono/poly-unsaturated fats: oleic acid 38–48 percent, linoleic acid 30–35 percent, palmitic acid 15–20 percent.
The oil is also a natural source of gamma-oryzanol — a mixture of ferulic acid esters of sterols and triterpene alcohols — which drives some of its supplement and cosmetic positioning.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Rice bran oil is one of Japan's standard deep-frying and all-purpose cooking oils, valued for a clean flavor and a high smoke point. It is widely used for tempura, karaage, and other deep-fried dishes.
In cosmetics, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil is used as an emollient, often alongside rice-derived extracts, to reinforce a rice-ingredient brand narrative.
Gamma-oryzanol is sometimes isolated and sold as a separate supplement or cosmetic ingredient.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Food-grade rice bran oil is regulated under the Food Sanitation Act and classified under relevant JAS food oil standards.
Cosmetic-grade Oryza Sativa Bran Oil is listed in the JSCI Japanese Cosmetic Ingredient Codex and permitted as a cosmetic ingredient.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Food-grade rice bran oil is permitted under general food law. Oryza Sativa Bran Oil is listed in CosIng for cosmetic use. |
|---|---|
| USA | Food-grade rice bran oil is used in specialty culinary applications. Cosmetic INCI recognized by PCPC. |
| China | Permitted per IECIC for cosmetic uses and relevant food standards for food uses. |
| Korea | Permitted in food and cosmetic applications under the relevant regulatory frameworks. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification.
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Related ingredients
References
- MAFF food oil JAS standards
- JSCI labeling name directory — コメヌカ油
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.