Coast Packing Company survey reveals consumer shift away from seed oils

20 per cent of respondents say they stopped using seed oils due to possible health risks and other factors

Coast Packing Company, the leading supplier of animal fat shortenings in the Western U.S., has released new findings from a new consumer survey highlighting a significant shift away from seed oils as a cooking fat.

“Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the health implications of seed oils, opting instead for more natural, minimally processed alternatives like tallow,” said Greg Hozinsky, Corporate Chef, Coast Packing Company. “Animal fats like tallow offer not just superior flavour but also performance benefits in cooking, such as higher smoke points and better texture in fried foods.”

The Coast study posed the question: Do you currently use seed oils (canola, soybean, cottonseed, grape seed, sesame, corn, safflower, rice bran, sunflower oils)? Respondents with a “Yes” were also asked their reasoning for using seed oils. Respondents who replied “No, but I used to” were asked the reasonings for changing from seed oils to alternative cooking fats or shortenings. The survey polled 2000+ respondents nationwide.

The survey revealed a notable shift among consumers away from seed oils, driven by various factors. Twenty per cent of total respondents no longer use seed oils, with 39 per cent citing health risks as their primary reason for this change. Other concerns include the highly processed nature of these oils (33 per cent), performance issues in cooking (26 per cent), and flavour preferences (24 per cent). Additionally, 13 per cent of respondents reported that they had intentionally switched to using animal fats.