Make America Healthy Again – a slogan that has been pushed by Robert F Kennedy Jr. to correct public health. One of his recent changes has been rallying against seed oils, which includes canola, soybean and corn oils. The health secretary considers them harmful and detrimental – but without any scientific evidence to support that notion. Kennedy’s thought process has trickled down to restaurants getting rid of seed oils completely. Still, with an emphasis on being healthy and avoiding ultra-processed foods – has the rally against seed oils been a benefit?
Restaurateurs are spending significantly more, and in some cases losing money. Some are paying $38 to $42 for a gallon of sugar-cane oil. Others are paying in the range of $29.50 to $32.50 for grapeseed oil. Even crazier, avocado oil costs more than twice to four times as much as canola oil per pound on average. An experiment conducted by Zero Acres Farm showed that sugar cane oil was more stable than seed oils when heated, and less likely to form byproducts that the company says can cause inflammation.
This research has led to some Restaurateurs leaning towards algae oil. An oil that boosts less water and land to cultivate, and has a clean, neutral flavor. It also costs 30 percent more than canola oil.
Although criticized, Seed oils make up 90 percent of restaurant oil sales by the pound in the United States. The biggest reasons are its price and convenience. However, the debate about seed oils alleged unhealthiness and inflammation has been a cause of concern. Political or culinary, the world seems to be against seed oils even if there are healthy options such as sunflower, soybean, and vegetable oil to name a few.
There needs to be a focus on evidence of these notions, not wackjob, conspiracy theory truths that have propelled misconceptions.
