“Seed Oil Free Certified” Food Label Unveiled
July 09 2024 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
The Seed Oil Free Alliance Cites Growing
Consumer Concern Over Widespread Adulteration Of Cooking Oils
Citing growing consumer concern over the ubiquity of refined
seed oils throughout the global food supply chain, the Seed Oil
Free Alliance, an independent certifying organization advised by a
coalition of public health and nutrition experts, today announced
the “Seed Oil Free Certified” Standards and Certification
Program.
“Americans who want to reduce or eliminate seed oils from their
diet deserve full transparency around these ingredients,” said Seed
Oil Free Alliance’s CEO Jonathan Rubin. “The aim of the new ‘Seed
Oil Free Certified’ Seal is to help consumers identify foods made
with healthy ingredients at the grocery store and when dining out.
This sends a powerful message to the entire industry that consumers
demand transparency and honesty when it comes to the quality and
purity of their ingredients.”
Based on studies conducted at the Food and Drug Administration
and UC Davis, more than 25% of extra virgin olive oil and nearly
70% of avocado oil in the US supply chain may be mixed or diluted
with low-cost refined seed oils like soybean, corn, or canola oil.
According to the FDA, this food fraud is economically motivated and
often evades detection. The adulterated oil is then mislabeled and
sold wholesale at a high price before being packaged for consumers
and restaurants.
Unfortunately, oil adulteration fraud may only become more
common as demand for premium, healthy oils continues to grow and
scarcity caused by drought and other climate-related factors leads
to frequent global production shortfalls.
"When people see the ‘Seed Oil Free Certified’ Seal in the
grocery aisle or at their favorite restaurant, they’ll know these
products have undergone rigorous laboratory testing and audits to
protect them from food fraud,” said Corey Nelson who serves as
Chief Innovation Officer and manages educational campaigns for the
Seed Oil Free Alliance. “Through education and technology, the Seed
Oil Free Alliance is creating an incentive for transparency that
will help food brands align with the preferences of consumers.”
All foods bearing the “Seed Oil Free Certified” Seal undergo
laboratory testing to ensure they are free from all seed oils,
including soybean, corn, and canola oil. Oils and refined fats
including olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, butter, and other
refined animal fats are permitted. Any consumer-packaged goods
companies or restaurants that undergo the certification process are
eligible to license the trademarked “Seed Oil Free Certified” seal
for display on qualifying product packages, menus, and marketing
materials.
The Seed Oil Free Alliance is a third-party certifying
organization that offers the world's first “Seed Oil Free
Certified” Seal for qualifying consumer packaged goods (CPG),
ready-to-eat foods, food service operations, and bottled cooking
oil products. The “Seed Oil Free Certified” Seal guarantees
consumers that the foods they choose have undergone independent
laboratory testing to ensure the purity of added oils and refined
fat ingredients. Supporting the Seed Oil Free Alliance in its
mission to accelerate the availability of seed oil-free food
options through trust, transparency, and technology is an advisory
panel made up of leading public health and nutrition experts. More
information can be found at seedoilfreecertified.com.
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Margie Adelman VP of Communications Seed Oil Free Alliance
Margie@seedoilfreecertified.com Mobile: 916-220-3500