Wheat germ oil is found in a lot of moisturising products and oil-based facial cleansers. With its high vitamin E content, it is also one of the main sources of the preservative and nutritional ingredient listed as “tocopherol”.

Wheat germ oil is most commonly made as a byproduct of the wheat flour milling process. The germinal segment of the wheat grain is separated from the fibrous wheat bran, and the starchy wheat segment (called the endosperm). The starchy segment goes off to be ground into flour, the husk goes off to be made into bran flakes and the germ goes to be pressed for oil. After being pressed it may be refined further or sold as crude wheat germ oil.

Wheat germ oil, as a product of wheat, may contain traces of gluten. If you suffer from coeliac disease, be sure to look for allergen warnings on the label. If the wheat germ oil is refined, the chances are very low that it will trigger allergic reactions but unrefined, cold-pressed wheat germ oils should be avoided.

Whole grain flour (and whole grain bread) is made without separating the three wheat grain segments. It’s made with the wheat bran husk, the starchy wheat endosperm and the nutrient-rich wheat germ.