Seed oils were primarily introduced into the modern food supply relatively recently, in the early 1900s.
The Beginning of Industrial Seed Oils
In the grand scheme of our nutritional history, industrial seed oils are a relatively new invention. Seed oils were introduced into our food supply in the early 1900s.
Their initial use was not for consumption but for different industrial purposes. Interestingly, they got their start when businessmen Procter & Gamble wanted to find a cheaper alternative to animal fats for their new bar soap. This shows their origin was tied more to manufacturing needs rather than direct food use initially.
Over time, technology developed to process these oils further, leading to their incorporation into various food products and their widespread use in cooking. This marked a significant shift in dietary fats consumed by the general population.
Key Milestones
- Early 1900s: Seed oils are introduced, initially for non-food industrial uses like soap manufacturing.
- Procter & Gamble: Sought a cheaper alternative to animal fats for soap, contributing to the development and processing of seed oils.
- Later Development: Processing methods improved, allowing seed oils to be used in food products.
This history highlights that the integration of industrial seed oils into our diet is a product of 20th-century innovation and industrialization, rather than a long-standing part of human nutritional history.
