With the introduction of a new presidential administration come structural changes. That said, while most American federal programs are changing, no program has seen bigger changes currently than the USA’s food programs. Robert F. Kennedy, the current United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, has taken the reigns of the situation, igniting a war on many food items he considers bad for the health of US citizens.
Recently, Kennedy has expressed his dislike for seed oils, claiming that Americans were “unknowingly poisoned” by them. This has led to a massive debate on whether or not seed oils are bad for a person’s health. However, like with everything food-related, there isn’t a concrete yes or no answer.
Seed oils consist of cooking oils made from plant seeds. Examples of these oils include canola oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, and safflower oil. These listed seed oils are often referred to as “The Hateful Eight” due to the perceived dangers these oils could potentially cause if used in food.
According to the American Heart Association, Seed oils are often linked to causing ailments including inflammation and weak immune system due to being high in omega-6 fatty acids. Concern over what we put in our food is commendable, and if we want to make the average American’s diet improve, this concern is needed for any real change to be had.
That said, this critique against seed oil is missing a significant caveat. There simply isn’t enough research to prove that seed oils are terrible for the human body. In a report by StatNews, it was surmised that seed oils may not be as good or bad as other fat alternatives like beef tallow, an alternative that Kennedy is eager to promote.
Seed Oils contain the necessary polyunsaturated fat Omega-6, which the body can’t produce by itself. Like Omega-3, polyunsaturated fat helps lower the risk of heart disease and stroke within the body. Instead of only focusing critique on Seed Oils, we should also be critiquing the overconsumption of fried foods and over-processed goods that use these oils.
