Exploring the Science of Seed Oils
Soybean industry has been in the news a LOT in recent months
The soybean industry has been in the news a LOT in recent months, and unfortunately, there has been very little – if any – good news for growers. On top of the tariff situation and the April tornadoes and flooding that many farmers are dealing with, everyone from restaurant chains to the national media and self-proclaimed “influencers” have been slamming seed oils. (photos Kentucky Soybean Board and Association)
PRINCETON, Ky. — The soybean industry has been in the news a LOT in recent months, and unfortunately, there has been very little – if any – good news for growers. On top of the tariff situation and the April tornadoes and flooding that many farmers are dealing with, everyone from restaurant chains to the national media and self-proclaimed “influencers” have been slamming seed oils.
As is often the case, they don’t have the facts, or perhaps they DO have the facts, and they just don’t care. Fortunately, the volunteer farmer-leaders of the United Soybean Board had the foresight back in 2004 to create an entity then known as the Soy Nutrition Institute (rebranded in 2021 as SNI Global) to serve as a credible, science-based resource on soy and soy nutrition.
SNI Global provides a process for the review and discussion of emerging soy research, provides a forum for discussion within the industry and academia, and provides evidence-based messaging through blogs, social media, and other outreach platforms.
SNI Global, in cooperation with the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) has done a deep dive into understanding dietary fat and fatty acids, and scientifically analyzing (with the help of USDA data) the fatty acid content of the 16 major oils and fats used in cooking. From soybean and canola oils to palm oil, lard, and yes – beef tallow, the information has been aggregated, analyzed, and evaluated for health benefits and risks according to the latest scientific recommendations for human health.
Until recently, there was little debate about the merits of seed oils because their consumption is endorsed by health agencies around the world. It has been and still is widely accepted that these oils are beneficial to health. It is universally agreed that replacing saturated fat in the diet with mono- and polyunsaturated fat lowers blood cholesterol levels, particularly LDL cholesterol, elevated levels of which are an important cardiovascular disease risk factor. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved coronary heart disease health claims for canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, and olive oil, as well as oils high in monounsaturated fat, based on their ability to lower blood cholesterol levels when replacing saturated fat in the diet.
Proponents of soybean oil have long touted its neutral flavor, potential heart-health benefits, and favorable fatty acid profile, and soybean oil has always been touted as a great choice for a variety of cooking and baking applications. It is often used in dressings, margarine, shortenings, sauces, baked goods and more, Commonly labeled as vegetable oil, soybean oil is the most widely consumed edible oil in the United States and the world.
SNI Global has compiled a comprehensive war chest of articles, blog posts, white papers, charts, and graphics on the subject of soybean oil and human health, and fortunately the news here is very positive for soy. Further, every claim, assertion, and statement about the health benefits of soy is backed up with extensive footnotes citing the scientific source of the information. Access the SNI Global website at SNIGlobal.org or by using the QR code.
The United Soybean Board recently commissioned a seed oil study with World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Services (WAEES). This study (which may be viewed in its entirety on the SNI Global website) found that a ban on seed oils, including soybean oil, would result in a sizable drop in consumption for domestic products while imported palm oil would likely flourish. Meantime, consumers would have a hard time making apples-to-apples substitutions given price surges, product availability, allergen issues, and usage constraints (just like you cannot use an orange in apple pie, not all fats and oils are created equal).
American Soybean Association President and Kentucky soybean farmer Caleb Ragland said of the study, “This work simply confirms what we already knew. A ban on seed oils, including soy, is going to have costly impacts for farmers and costly impacts for consumers—and I don’t just mean in the wallet. There is the potential here that we lose consumer choice based on conjecture, and that should not be something we condone in the United States or anywhere, for that matter.”
The Food and Drug Administration has recognized the potential health benefits of soybean oil through a scientific review process that supports replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats found in soybean oil to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Ragland said, “FDA’s qualified health claim for soybean oil found ‘supportive scientific evidence’ to suggest soybean oil and certain foods made from it may lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Why would we rock that boat without any scientific reason if soy oil has, time and again, been found safe and even to have potential health benefits—including by European nations like Germany and
Austria that also suggest using seed oil, and specifically soybean oil, over other forms of fat can have health benefits and be a part of a healthy diet? That does not make logical sense and does not seem worth taking away consumer choice and killing nearly half (43%) of our domestic soy oil market.”
The bottom line is this: don’t fear your food. Kentucky’s soybean farmers have no reservations about feeding their families foods that contain soy, including soybean (vegetable) oil. The science supports soybean oil as a safe and healthy fat, and the marketplace shows that soybean oil is readily available and economically affordable.
–Rae Wagoner, Kentucky Soybean Board and Association
