US and global health authorities have recommended seed oils for decades for their heart-healthy essential fats. But in 2024, the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement was targeting what it called the “hateful eight” seed oils … with claims that these products were highly inflammatory, oxidize easily, and contribute to chronic illnesses like heart disease and cancer.
Scientific evidence suggests the opposite: that seed oils improve blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. But with US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. describing seed oils as “toxic” and MAHA influencers amplifying those claims, seed oils saw a seven-fold surge in news mentions, Google searches for “are seed oils bad for you” shot up 900% ….
The United Soybean Board, which represents the soybean industry … sought to combat the misinformation and amplify the actual science on seed oils.
… [T]he team focused on intercepting high‑intent moments with credible, science-based information, anchoring the campaign in peer-reviewed research ….
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The campaign generated more than 2.4 billion earned impressions ….
“The proof of success was real consumer action. The campaign drove more than 130,000 users to science-backed resources…,” [said Paul Murphy-Spooner, senior director of external communications at the United Soybean Board].
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