RFK, Seed Oils, and Health Impacts: What You Need to Know

Everyone seems to be talking about it lately. With Trump back as president, there's a whirlwind of changes coming to health and food regulations. One particular individual at the center of these changes is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK). Now, love him or hate him, RFK is set to take a big swing at our health landscape—and it's not just about vaccine mandates or Big Pharma. Today, we're diving into a topic that’s been heating up the wellness world and is right up our alley: seed oils.

You’ve probably seen the debates—maybe even overheard a friend at your favorite brunch spot talk about seed oils. Are they the bad guys or just another misunderstood ingredient? Well, today we're going to take a closer look and figure out why RFK wants them gone and what all the fuss is about.

What Are Seed Oils, and How Did They Get in Our Food?

To understand what’s at stake here, let’s take a brief stroll down memory lane. Seed oils, like canola, soybean, and sunflower oil, started sneaking into our kitchens in the early 20th century. During this time, food companies were searching for cost-effective alternatives to traditional fats like butter and lard—enter seed oils. They were cheap, easy to produce, and had a longer shelf life. By the 1950s, they were being hailed as the healthy replacement for saturated fats, and thanks to some pretty aggressive marketing campaigns, seed oils became the darling of processed food companies. Fast forward to today, and they’re in almost everything—from salad dressings to snack foods to those seemingly innocent crackers in your pantry.

How Do Seed Oils Affect Us?

Now, here’s where things get controversial. Seed oils are rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which, when consumed in moderation, aren’t inherently harmful. The problem is that modern diets have massively tipped the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio—resulting in inflammation, which is linked to chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and even autoimmune disorders (Simopoulos, 2002). Essentially, we’re getting way more omega-6 than our bodies know what to do with. Some studies also suggest that the refining process of these oils can create harmful byproducts like aldehydes, which have been linked to oxidative stress and cellular damage (Gómez-Coronado et al., 2004). In short: not the best thing to drench your roasted veggies in.

What Are RFK’s Plans for Seed Oils?

RFK has made it clear—he’s not a fan of seed oils. He believes that the overuse of these oils is one of the key contributors to America’s growing health crisis. As part of his broader initiative to overhaul the nation’s food system, RFK has suggested banning or severely restricting the use of seed oils in processed foods. He plans to push for tighter regulations on food manufacturers, favoring healthier, more traditional fats over highly processed seed oils. He argues that this could help curb inflammation-related diseases and create a healthier population.

Our Take at Eat Purposefully

At Eat Purposefully, we’ve been ahead of the curve when it comes to avoiding seed oils. We believe in using fats that are kinder to your body, like coconut oil—which not only tastes delicious but also has a better fatty acid profile for overall health. Our granola is made with ingredients that support gut health, and seed oils simply don’t make the cut. They’re highly processed, unstable when heated, and can disrupt the balance of our gut microbiome—a key factor in our approach to food that helps people feel their best.

Wrap-Up

Listen, we’re just a granola company that loves making food to better nourish your body. We’re not here to take a political stance or tell you what to think about every health initiative. But when it comes to seed oils, we have to agree with RFK on one thing—they’re not doing our health any favors. Whether or not banning them is the answer, well, we’ll leave that up to the experts. But we do know that choosing quality ingredients that nourish us deeply—that’s what we’re all about.