Part 3/9:
The Rise of Seed Oils
The journey of seed oils into everyday diets started in the late 19th century, with cotton seed oil transitioning from a toxic byproduct to a viable ingredient for food. However, it wasn't until the 1950s that seed oils skyrocketed in popularity, particularly with the introduction of canola oil—a genetically modified version of rapeseed oil. By 1985, canola oil had received the FDA's "generally recognized as safe" status, paving the way for its widespread use. Fast forward to today: the average American consumes upwards of 40 grams of vegetable oils per day, translating to approximately 25 kilograms annually.