K A S H R U T . C O M_©

August 14, 2025 from FoodDive

"More food companies are starting to promote a shift away from seed oils as the “Make America Healthy Again” movement positions the controversial ingredients as unhealthy.

"In one of the largest scale announcements so far, Real Good Foods, a maker of better-for-you frozen meals, said it would begin to transition its entire portfolio away from seed oils and instead adopt beef tallow. The company launched a new line of seed oil-free breaded chicken and will begin the process of converting the rest of its products.

"While restaurants, such as Steak N’ Shake and Sweetgreen, have received considerable attention for their commitment to phase out seed oils, Real Good Foods is among a burgeoning group of smaller food companies that are following suit.

"Seed oils are vegetable oils derived from plants including canola, sunflower or soybean seeds. Commonly found in processed or fried products, these oils have become under tighter scrutiny as consumers and regulators alike begin to crack down on ultra-processed foods.

"Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has decried seed oils as 'one of the most unhealthy ingredients that we have in foods,' with critics saying they can break down during the cooking process into compounds that cause inflammation and weaken the immune system.

"Kennedy and others have promoted beef tallow or other oils with higher saturated fat content that remain stable at high heat.

"Nutritionists and health experts have largely debunked the idea that seed oils are less healthy, with decades of research showing the unsaturated fats in seed oils are linked to a lower risk of heart disease. Still, that hasn’t stopped companies from jumping on the seed oil-free bandwagon.

"Scaling use of beef tallow in the U.S. would be a complex endeavor, especially as an ongoing cattle shortage could limit supply of the ingredient. Real Good Foods said the change has had ripple effects throughout its supply chain, impacting the manufacturing process, sourcing strategy and more."