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Sunflower Oil

Level 4Significant concerns2 sources

Sunflower Oil is a other additive listed in the FDA food-additive database.

Also: RBD sunflower oil

Where you'll see it

Lyra's ice cream, virtually any product with 'vegetable oil' listed

What the research says

Same RBD critique: refined-bleached-deodorised, denatured, low in micronutrients. Paul Hart argues these belong in NOVA group 4; van Tulleken caveats that cooking at home with sunflower oil differs from eating it in an industrially produced product with many other ingredients. [ultra-processed-people] Same RBD critique: refined-bleached-deodorised, denatured, low in micronutrients. Paul Hart argues these belong in NOVA group 4; van Tulleken caveats that cooking at home with sunflower oil differs from eating it in an industrially produced product with many other ingredients. [metabolical] High-linoleic sunflower oil contributes to the 20:1 omega-6:omega-3 ratio of the processed Western diet, driving arachidonic-acid-mediated inflammation. Cis-double bonds isomerize to trans on heating beyond smoke point.

Regulatory status

  • Notes: From enrichment source only, not in Winter Dictionary

Sources

  • Metabolical (Lustig)Chapter 1; Chapter 18: seed oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which are highly pro-inflammatory
  • Ultra-Processed People (van Tulleken)Chapter 4: The discovery of UPF (footnote): There is persuasive emerging evidence that these seed oils are harmful in lots of ways at the doses we consume them