AreaUnited States of America

Commodity GroupOilseeds, oils and meals

CommoditySoybean oil

Date01/08/2017

Policy CategoryConsumption and marketing

Policy InstrumentHealth policy

DescriptionAllowed food manufacturers and restaurants to make qualified health claims linking soybean oil consumption to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

NotesResponding to a petition filed by a large agribusiness and food company, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided to allow food manufacturers and restaurants to make qualified health claims linking soybean oil to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease. The decision is based on ‘supportive but not conclusive evidence’ that eating soybean oil – which contains unsaturated fatty acids – may provide heart health benefits, provided soybean oil is to replace (or not to increase) saturated fat intake and does not raise daily caloric intake.