In recent years, many food manufacturers have contributed to the Partnership for a Healthier America, improving the nutritional value of their products for Americans. However, more progress is needed and with this in mind, reducing the saturated fat in food products and replacing it with unsaturated fats and oils is a good place to start.
Will consumers notice a difference if the fat or oil is switched to sunflower oil?
Healthier product formulations start by substituting non-GMO sunflower oil for part or all of the saturated fat in your products. Whether you are creating snack foods, appetizers, entrees or baked goods, sunflower oil, with its neutral taste and extended shelf life is an excellent substitute. In fact, research shows when sunflower oil was substituted for some of the saturated fat in muffins, crackers, cookies and croissants, the taste and texture remained the same, but the products had a healthier nutrition profile.
How can sunflower oil improve product formulations?
Sunflower oil is premium oil and all sunflower oil is low in saturated fat. Sunflower oil is available in both mid oleic and high oleic formats and is high in monounsaturated fat. It contains only a trace of Omega 3 polyunsaturated fat, making it more stable than many other oils. Studies show that sunflower oil is a superior fry oil that is very stable and has a longer fry life than many other oils, including high oleic canola and high oleic soybean oils. Sun oil has a high smoke point and there is less absorption of sun oil into food when it is par-fried or fried, often resulting in lower fat overall and a better nutrition facts label.
What about organic product formulations?
With US household usage of organic products up almost 30 percent between 2010 and 2017¹, consumers are definitely looking for organic foods in every grocery category. USA sunflower oil is readily available in organic formats, ensuring that the ingredient deck for your products meets organic guidelines. In addition, sunflower oil is also kosher and halal certified.
Are there any other reasons to switch to sunflower oil?
Recently the FDA approved a new qualified health claim that applies to sunflower oil. It suggests that daily consumption of 1 ½ tablespoons of oils containing high oleic acid, (monounsaturates) may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.² All high oleic sunflower oil and some mid oleic sunflower oil qualify for this claim.
If you are curious about how sunflower oil will perform in your product formulations, contact a sunflower oil supplier at: SunflowerNSA.com or contact the National Sunflower Association at: 701-328-5100.
¹ Packaged Facts Report - “Organics and Clean Label Food Consumer in the U.S.”, published Jan. 31 2018
² Edible oils must contain at least 70% oleic acid and need to be substituted for saturated fats.