Sowing oils under fire: why RFK JR. and influencers ring the alarm in fast food restaurants

deleciousfood | March 13, 2025 | Fast Food | No Comments

Thank you mainly to the choice of President Trump as a new country secretary in the country, Seed oils are at the center of a debate that has reached a boiling point in the United States.

Seed oils poisoning the Americans, claims RFK

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who in February was sworn in as head of the United States Ministry of Health and Social Services, has make the complaint that the Americans are “poisoned without knowing it” by seed oils.

In an article on the social platform of the X media in October, Kennedy We called on fast food restaurants to stop using seed oils in their friesWriting: “Fast food is part of American culture. But that does not mean that it must be unhealthy, and that we cannot make better choices. “”

The 71 -year -old man, who is the son of the former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, added that Restaurants such as McDonald’s should come back to the use of beef tif in their cooking process.

And Kennedy’s calls against seed oils have been supported by eminent social media personalities such as Fitness Brian influencer “Liver King” Johnson. According to the food institute, Johnson described seed oils as “dangerous” and “destructive” to human health.

Fast food is part of American culture. But that does not mean that it must be unhealthy and that we cannot make better choices. Did you know that McDonald’s used the habit of using beef tallow to make their 1940 fries until seed apo-oil in 1990? This switch was … pic.twitter.com/ygijmtssqt

– Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertkenNedyjr) October 21, 2024

So what are the seed oils?

As explained by the Food Institute, seed oils – also known as vegetable oils – are oils extracted from plant seeds. Used for food cooking and processing, seed oils have the advantage that they are more affordable than fruit oils such as olive oil.

Why are seed oils naked?

Eight seeds of seeds – canola, corn, cotton seeds, grape seeds, soy, rice sound, sunflower and carthame – have now been nicknamed the “eight hateful” by their detractors.

Seed oils were mainly under fire Because they are rich in omega-6 fatty acidsexplains the food institute. This has led adversaries of seed oils to claim that they are responsible for provoking it from inflammation, weakening people ‘immune systems and contributing to the development of chronic diseases.

What is omega-6?

By the American Heart Association (AHA), omega-6 is a polyunsaturated fat that the human body needs but is unable to do on its own. In particular, omega-6 helps reduce the amount of LDL cholesterol-a waxy and fatty substance also known as “bad” cholesterol-that is to say in our system.

Are omega-6 “exaggerated” or “unfairly demonized”?

In an interview The American scientific In December, professor of surgery at the University of Florida Timothy Yeatman assertive that the American population can obtain too much omega-6 in its daily diet.

“It’s like everything else: it should be in moderation,” said Yeatman. “But the problem is We have massively exaggerated the amount of seed oil in food. “”

Yeatman added: “Someone must prove that seed oils, taken in the excess quantities that they are given to us, are really safe. And that has not yet been proven to me, so I think the default value should reduce them until you know. “”

Quoting Dr. Christopher Gardner, nutrition scientist at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, AHA A against that omega-6 is “unfairly demonized”Partly because it seems less effective in protecting human health than a similar substance known as omega-3.

Stressing that seed oils are “to fear”, maintains Dr. Gardner, for example, that the amount of inflammation caused by omega-6 has not been demonstrated that.

And when it comes to ultra-transformed foods which generally constitute fast food meals, adds Dr. Gardner, People lead their concern If they focus on seed oils Used in the process of making them.

“It is difficult to blame seed oils when These foods contain so many other things“He said to the AHA.

The FDA candidate calls for “consolidation of scientific evidence”

Speaking during an audience in the Senate last week, Dr. Marty Makary, candidate of President Trump to direct the Food and Drug Administration of the United States, called to Additional research should be carried out in the effects of seed oil products.

“I think seed oils are a good example of the place We could benefit from a consolidation of scientific evidence“Said Dr. Makary, a health care expert at Johns Hopkins University, according to the Associated Press.

And what about beef tallow?

According to Mayo Clinic, beef tif is a “white substance” made “By eliminating, simmering and clarifying the adipose tissue that surrounds the organs“Cows.

Eric Decker, professor of food sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Born agree with Kennedy that restaurants should go to the beef tif For food preparation processes such as frying.

“There is No evidence indicates that beef tallow is healthier that seed oils, ”said Decker at AP.