Interesterified Soybean Oil
Also known as: interesterified soya oil
Interesterified soybean oil is GRAS and contains negligible trans fats, but a peer-reviewed rat study found that compared to native soybean oil, interesterified soybean oil 'showed an increased body mass gain, retroperitoneal WAT mass, fasting glucose, and impaired glucose tolerance.' Human metabolic data are limited and mixed; classification is moderate pending stronger long-term human evidence.
What it is
Soybean oil whose triglyceride structure has been chemically or enzymatically rearranged to alter melting properties; introduced as a trans-fat-free replacement for partially hydrogenated soybean oil.
Provides solid-fat functionality (e.g., in margarines, shortenings, baked-good fats) without trans fats.
Why it's flagged
- Impaired glucose tolerance in animal studies
- Elevated liver stress markers in animals
- Long-term human cardiometabolic effects under-studied
What regulators actually say
"ISO group showed an increased body mass gain, retroperitoneal WAT mass, fasting glucose, and impaired glucose tolerance."
"Interesterified lipids... have increasingly replaced partially hydrogenated oils in the food supply, but data on their long-term health effects remain limited."
Regulatory status
United States — FDA
Considered GRAS; not subject to PHO ban because it contains negligible trans fat.
European Union — EFSA
Permitted; constituent fatty-acid composition evaluated under general food law.
Scan it before you buy it
Get Ube on iOS or Android — point at any barcode, see what's actually in there.
Get the app