Should We Be Worried About Seed Oils?

Seed oils have become a major topic of discussion in online health communities, sparking widespread interest in their potential impact on human health. While I do not claim to be an expert on the subject, I am keen to understand whether governmental bodies have conducted research into the health effects of seed oils and, if so, what their findings reveal.

There have been many medical journals citing the harmful effects of seed oils on human health.

To investigate this, I submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on January 14, 2025, seeking information on their involvement in scientific research or assessments related to seed oils. The FSA’s response confirmed that they do hold information within the scope of my request; however, they directed me to publicly available materials rather than providing any previously unpublished research. Under Section 21 of the FOIA, information that is reasonably accessible by other means is exempt from disclosure.

This article summarizes and analyses the 31 documents provided by the FSA in response to my FOI request. At the end of this article, you will find a download link where you can access all the files and examine them for yourself.

Why This FOI Request Matters:

This request presents a double-edged sword:

If the government has not conducted research into the potential harms of seed oils, it raises serious questions about public health oversight and safety regulations.

If they have conducted research, what do the findings reveal? Are there health risks that are not being properly acknowledged or addressed?

Even though these documents exist in the public domain, why is the issue of seed oils and their potential health effects not being taken more seriously?

This investigation aims to inform the public about:

• The extent of the FSA’s research and involvement concerning seed oils.

• The regulatory framework in which seed oils are assessed for safety.

• The availability (or absence) of scientific findings related to seed oils and potential health risks, such as inflammation and chronic disease.

I have ensured that all referenced documents remain unaltered, with no modification to their content, interpretation, or intent, aside from structuring them for clarity and readability.

The FOIA ensures public access to government-held data, promoting transparency and accountability. The information shared here is provided for public awareness and journalistic analysis, adhering to ethical reporting standards.

This article does not alter or modify any FSA-provided data. Documents are presented exactly as they were received, with only structural edits to ensure clarity.

Inclusion of FSA materials does not imply endorsement of any conclusions drawn. Any commentary, critique, or analysis reflects my independent evaluation based on the evidence available.

As per the FOIA, all disclosed information is “applicant blind”, meaning that this data is now in the public domain and is not restricted to a single individual.

My FOIA Request to the FSA:

On January 14, 2025, I sent the following Freedom of Information request to the Food Standards Agency:

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the Food Standards Agency’s involvement in research or scientific studies related to seed oils and their potential effects on human health.

Specifically, I would like to know:

1. Whether the Food Standards Agency has commissioned, funded, or contributed to any scientific studies, reports, or papers concerning the health impacts of seed oils.

2. The titles, authors, and publication dates of any such studies or reports.

3. Copies of any documents, including correspondence, that detail the findings, funding, or purpose of such research.

4. If available, details about the outcomes or conclusions regarding the potential negative effects of seed oils on human health (e.g., connections to inflammation, chronic diseases, or other health issues).

Below, I present my findings based on the 31 documents provided by the FSA.

Has the FSA Commissioned, Funded, or Contributed to Scientific Studies on Seed Oils and Their Health Effects?

The reviewed documents contain risk assessments, regulatory reviews, and committee discussions related to novel foods, food safety, and allergen risks but do not provide direct evidence that the FSA has commissioned or funded long-term scientific studies on the overall health effects of seed oils.

Some documents indicate that the FSA has conducted risk assessments and regulatory evaluations regarding the substitution of sunflower oil with alternative vegetable oils (e.g., rapeseed, palm, soybean), particularly due to supply chain disruptions caused allegedly by the Ukraine war.

Several reports discuss toxicity concerns, specifically regarding 3-MCPD (3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol) contamination, which occurs due to high-heat processing rather than an inherent issue with seed oils themselves.

The Allergy Rapid Risk Assessment reports focus solely on allergenic concerns, with no exploration of metabolic or chronic disease risks such as inflammation, cardiovascular disease, or obesity.

Conclusion:

The FSA’s role appears to be limited to regulatory safety assessments, ensuring compliance with food safety standards rather than conducting or funding independent research into the long-term health implications of seed oils.

No evidence suggests that the FSA has undertaken independent investigations into the broader chronic disease risks associated with seed oils (e.g., inflammation, diabetes, metabolic disorders).

This is extremely concerning.

Titles, Authors, and Publication Dates of Relevant Studies or Reports

Investigation of the Formation of 3MCPD from Mono and Diesters of its Fatty Acids:

• Date: 2010

• Conducted by: Premier Analytical Services (with FERA and ICT)

• Focus: Investigates the formation of 3-MCPD, a potentially carcinogenic contaminant found in processed vegetable oils, including seed oils.

• Conclusion: 3-MCPD exposure primarily occurs in refined oils processed at high temperatures, emphasising the risks of industrial processing rather than the oils themselves.

  

Erucic Acid Rapid Risk Assessment – Rapeseed Oil Substitution for Sunflower Oil:

• Date: April 2022

• Conducted by: Food Standards Agency (FSA)

• Focus: Examines erucic acid levels in rapeseed oil and its potential health risks, particularly in cases of high consumption.

• Conclusion: Rapeseed oil was considered safe, but erucic acid levels require monitoring, especially in products targeted at infants.

Allergy Rapid Risk Assessment – Vegetable Oils Substituted for Sunflower Oil:

• Date: 2022

• Conducted by: Food Standards Agency (FSA)

• Focus: Evaluates the potential allergenic risks posed by replacing sunflower oil with rapeseed, soybean, palm, coconut, or cottonseed oils.

• Conclusion:

  • Fully refined oils pose minimal allergenic risk.

  • Unrefined oils retain proteins, potentially triggering allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

  • No discussion on metabolic or chronic disease risks.

Tests to Inform FSA Decision-Making Around Sunflower Oil Substitution:

• Date: 2022

• Conducted by: Food Standards Agency (FSA)

• Focus: Examines the nutritional, allergenic, and sustainability aspects of replacing sunflower oil in processed foods.

• Conclusion:

  • Suggests preferring oils lower in saturated fat.

  • Does not evaluate metabolic or chronic disease risks related to seed oils.

Conclusion:

These reports are regulatory risk assessments and not scientific studies on the long-term health impacts of seed oils.

None of the reports explicitly explore chronic disease risks, such as inflammation, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.

Correspondence, Documents Detailing Findings, Funding, or Purpose of Research

No correspondence or internal discussions regarding the funding of independent seed oil research were found in these documents.

The FSA primarily relies on external research from organisations such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) instead of conducting primary scientific investigations.

Conclusion:

The FSA has not internally funded or directly conducted studies into the chronic disease risks associated with seed oils.

Their focus remains on regulatory safety assessments, rather than investigating metabolic or inflammatory concerns.

Outcomes or Conclusions on Negative Health Effects of Seed Oils

While the reviewed documents do not explore chronic health effects, they highlight several safety concerns:

1. 3-MCPD and Glycidol Esters in Refined Oils:

• Found in processed vegetable oils due to high-heat refining techniques.

• Potentially carcinogenic.

• Regulation and monitoring recommended.

Erucic Acid in Rapeseed Oil:

• High levels could pose health risks, particularly for infants.

• Modern Canola oil varieties contain low erucic acid levels and are generally safe.

Saturated Fat in Palm & Coconut Oil:

• Considered less healthy than unsaturated fats.

• Government guidance encourages replacing saturated fats with unsaturated options (e.g., sunflower, rapeseed, soybean oil).

The FSA’s Reports on Inflammation or Chronic Disease:

• The FSA has not published any reports linking seed oils to inflammation, metabolic disorders, or obesity.

• The focus remains on contaminants and allergenic risks, rather than long-term dietary effects.

This is extremely worrying as there are medical journals linking seed oils or to be specific, Omega-6 fats, like linoleic acid found in seed oils, are the primary precursors to inflammatory compounds, and these are ubiquitous in conditions like IBS and IBD.

The FSA’s Troubling Gaps in Research on Seed Oils

It is evident that the agency has not conducted or funded any long-term health studies on the metabolic effects of seed oils. The documents confirm that the FSA’s work has been limited to regulatory risk assessments focusing on food safety, allergen risks, and contaminant monitoring rather than chronic disease risks such as inflammation, cardiovascular disease, or metabolic disorders.

This lack of research and oversight is deeply concerning, given the widespread use of industrial seed oils in processed foods and the growing body of independent research suggesting potential negative health effects. Below is a breakdown of why this is a critical public health failure and how the FSA’s inaction leaves significant gaps in consumer protection.

What the FSA Has Not Done?

No Scientific Investigation into the Long-Term Health Effects of Seed Oils:

• The FSA has not commissioned, funded, or conducted any longitudinal studies on the health risks of chronic seed oil consumption.

• The reviewed documents do not contain any investigations into whether high consumption of seed oils contributes to:

  • Inflammation and autoimmune disorders

  • Obesity and metabolic syndrome

  • Heart disease and stroke risks

  • Cognitive decline or neurological conditions

  • Cancer risks associated with seed oil processing and repeated high-heat cooking

• This means that despite seed oils becoming the most commonly used dietary fat, the FSA has not explored their cumulative health impact.

No documents provided by the FSA contain studies or risk assessments related to these health concerns.

Reliance on External Data Instead of Conducting Independent Research:

• The FSA relies on external sources, such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), for much of its scientific validation.

• The agency does not conduct primary research to verify whether seed oils are safe for long-term human consumption in the UK population.

• Without UK-based, government-funded research, how can the FSA confidently assure the public that these oils do not pose significant health risks?

FSA’s FOI response does not indicate funding or commissioning of any UK-based research on long-term seed oil safety.

The FSA’s Focus is Limited to Contaminants and Allergens, Not Metabolic Risks:

The FSA’s documented assessments only cover:

• 3-MCPD and glycidol esters in refined seed oils (a potential carcinogenic byproduct of high-heat processing).

• Erucic acid levels in rapeseed oil (monitored for safety concerns, particularly in infants).

• Potential allergenic risks when substituting sunflower oil with other seed oils.

• However, these assessments are not equivalent to studying the broader health risks of consuming large amounts of processed seed oils over time.

The FSA does not investigate metabolic consequences, leaving a critical gap in public health research.

“Investigation of the Formation of 3MCPD from Mono and Diesters of its Fatty Acids” (2010) confirms 3-MCPD exposure risks but does not assess broader health concerns.

“Allergy Rapid Risk Assessment – Vegetable Oils Substituted for Sunflower Oil” (2022) focuses only on allergic reactions, not long-term metabolic risks.

No Government-Led Inquiry into the High Consumption of Seed Oils:

• Despite the fact that seed oils now dominate the food supply, there is no evidence that the FSA (or any UK health body) has assessed their long-term safety.

• There has been no UK government-led public health review on the historical shift away from natural fats (e.g., butter, lard, tallow) towards heavily refined vegetable oils.

This is highly concerning, especially considering:

• The parallel increase in diet-related illnesses during the same period.

• The lack of historical precedent for such high consumption of these oils in human diets.

• The potential role of seed oils in chronic inflammation, as some independent research has suggested.

No reviewed documents address the systemic increase in seed oil consumption and its impact on human health.

What This Means for Public Health

The FSA’s failure to investigate long-term metabolic and chronic disease risks associated with seed oils is a serious public health oversight. The agency’s limited scope—focusing only on isolated contaminants and allergenic concerns—suggests that consumer safety is being evaluated in a fragmented manner rather than with a comprehensive health-first approach.

The fact that no government body has raised serious concerns about the potential health risks of seed oils mirrors previous public health failures, such as:

• The delayed recognition of trans fats as harmful, despite early warnings.

• The failure to regulate sugar consumption, leading to the obesity and diabetes epidemic.

• The historical endorsement of ultra-processed foods without considering long-term effects on metabolic health.

If seed oils are contributing to inflammation, obesity, and chronic disease, as emerging independent research suggests, then the lack of government action is setting the stage for another avoidable health crisis.

Click Here to download all the files from the FSA FOI Request