Seed Oils
Seed oils as a category provide unsaturated fats; mainstream nutrition bodies (USDA Dietary Guidelines, AHA) recommend replacing saturated fat with these unsaturated oils to lower LDL and CVD risk. As an umbrella term, however, specific oils vary in fatty-acid profile and processing (some industrial oils may contain trans fats from partial hydrogenation prior to FDA's 2018 PHO ban).
What it is
Generic umbrella term for refined vegetable oils extracted from seeds (soybean, canola/rapeseed, sunflower, safflower, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed).
Cooking fat; ingredient in processed foods, dressings, fried foods.
What regulators actually say
"Based on a thorough review of the scientific evidence, FDA has determined that PHOs, the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use in human food."
"The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat... and replacing it with healthier unsaturated fats from sources like vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and fish."
Regulatory status
United States — FDA
Common refined vegetable oils GRAS; PHOs banned for food use since 2018.
European Union — EFSA
Refined vegetable oils authorized; trans-fat limit 2 g/100 g fat (Regulation (EU) 2019/649).
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