If you think seed oils only show up in deep fryers or fast food, think again. Canola, soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, and grapeseed oil have quietly made their way into nearly every aisle of the grocery store within the last 120 years, and often into foods you’d never expect.
As we explained in our full guide to seed oils, these industrial oils aren’t just harmless “vegetable” fats. They’re heavily processed, stripped of natural nutrients, and loaded with unstable omega-6 fatty acids that can tip the body into chronic inflammation when eaten in excess.† That’s why knowing where they hide is key.
The tricky part? Food manufacturers aren’t required to market these oils loudly on the front of the package. Instead, they show up in the fine print of the ingredients list, even in foods marketed as “healthy,” “natural,” or “clean.”
Here’s a list of 20 common foods that often contain seed oils, so you can start spotting (and swapping) them in your own kitchen.
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Coffee creamers
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Infant formula
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It’s currently impossible to find commercially available baby formula in the United States that is completely free of seed oils. The FDA actually mandates that all infant formulas contain a certain amount of seed oils to ensure “adequate nutrition”.
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Nut butters (especially if it’s no-stir)
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Condiments (ketchup, mayo, salad dressings, pretty much any sauce)
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Frozen dinners
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Crackers
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Olive oil blends
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Avocado oil blends
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Butter products
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If the label says “butter spread” or “buttery topping”, you can pretty much bet your life savings there’s seed oils mixed in there. There’s a reason they couldn’t straight up call it “butter”.
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Ice cream
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Hate to break it to you, but almost every generic store brand is going to contain either seed oils or corn syrup.
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Hummus
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Why’d they have to come for hummus though???
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Plant-based meat alternatives
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Plant-based egg substitutes
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Oat milk
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Pre-marinated meat
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Baked goods
Seed oils are more widespread than people realize. Because they’re cheap and undergo intense processing to strip them of odors, they’re usually the go-to oil for nearly all processed foods. Reading ingredient labels — especially looking for "vegetable”, canola, and soybean oil — can help you reduce unintended consumption. For a cleaner diet, prioritize whole foods and healthy home-cooking fats like olive oil, butter, tallow, or coconut.
† We are required to say that these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
