Latest news with #SeedOilFreeAlliance
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Radical Transparency Bears Fruit: California Olive Ranch Earns Seed Oil Free Certification
California Olive Ranch is the first producer of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to display the Seed Oil Free Certified™ Seal CHICO, Calif., May 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rooted in innovation and radical transparency, California Olive Ranch has grown into the largest domestic grower of olives for Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) by challenging industry norms, ensuring the quality, authenticity, and integrity of their products for more than 20 years. As the first retail brand offering Extra Virgin Olive Oil to earn the Seed Oil Free Certified™ Seal, California Olive Ranch continues to elevate standards with certification across their full lineup of dressings, marinades, and avocado blend cooking oils. "We pride ourselves on going above and beyond by proudly disclosing place-of-origin, harvest season, and quality testing results on every bottle of our cold-pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil," said Mary Mori, VP of Product & Quality for California Olive Ranch. "Seed Oil Free Certification guarantees customers who choose to avoid seed oils can confidently enjoy all our Extra Virgin Olive Oils, avocado blend, and vinaigrettes. It reflects our core value of radical transparency to continually verify all our products meet the highest standards of purity." Known for their robust quality assurance program, California Olive Ranch are the first producers of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) to earn the Seed Oil Free Certified Seal, affirming that the brands' olive oils, avocado oil, flavored oils, vinaigrettes and marinades and other ingredients are free from seed oil adulteration and meet the highest quality standards. "The Seed Oil Free Certified Seal offers verified assurance in a market where premium oils, especially extra virgin olive and avocado oils, are being sought out by consumers for their incredible flavor, health benefits, and heat stability," said Jonathan Rubin, CEO and founder of the Seed Oil Free Alliance. "California Olive Ranch has led the industry in innovation, sustainability, and quality assurance for decades. This dedication to what they call 'Radical Transparency' is why California Olive Ranch makes a perfect partner for Seed Oil Free Certification." The certification process included lab testing for purity and comprehensive third-party audits of California Olive Ranch's supply chain and formulation practices. All tests are aligned with globally recognized standards, including the International Olive Council (IOC), Codex Alimentarius, and the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC). These protocols ensure that every Seed Oil Free Certified product is free from contamination with adulterants such as soybean, canola, and corn oil. To become Seed Oil Free Certified, the brand reformulated certain sauces and dressings by replacing carrier oils that contained trace amounts of seed oil with MCT oil. California Olive Ranch's commitment to purity, ingredient integrity, and consumer transparency is now represented with the Seed Oil Free Certified Seal (pictured). All California Olive Ranch and Lucini products bearing the Seed Oil Free Certified Seal can be found at and grocery stores nationwide. California Olive Ranch 100% California Avocado Blends 100% California EVOO 100% California EVOO Reserve Collection Global EVOO Blends - Medium, Mild & Robust EVOO-based Vinaigrettes EVOO-based Marinades Black Truffle Flavored EVOO Roasted Garlic Flavored EVOO Jalapeño Herb Flavored EVOO Lucini Organic Everyday EVOO Premium Select EVOO Organic Premium Select EVOO Delicate Lemon Flavored Oil Garden Basil Flavored Oil Robust Garlic Flavored Oil Brands like California Olive Ranch, which do not emphasize health trends around seed oils, recognize the importance of transparency in light of modern dietary shifts. Refined seed oils, virtually absent before the 20th century, now supply over 20% of daily calories for many Americans. Consumers are seeking healthy cooking oil alternatives or avoiding seed oils entirely, driven by a desire for more traditional and less industrially processed ingredients in the foods they choose. "We rigorously evaluate all of the products made from our own cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and work closely with external certifying bodies like the Seed Oil Free Alliance because customers deserve to know they're buying the best," said Mori. "The Seed Oil Free Certified seal is a trusted indicator that our products meet the highest standards for transparency and quality. It reflects our commitment to offering products aligned with consumer values." Winner of over 260 awards at international tasting competitions, California Olive Ranch is the nation's largest producer of olives for extra virgin olive oil. As a leading innovator in olive cultivation, harvesting, and milling, the company has remained dedicated to environmental stewardship, fanatical about quality, and operated with radical transparency since its founding in 1998. In addition to Seed Oil Free Certified, the company maintains several third-party certifications that meet the industry's highest standards, including Certified Extra Virgin, Non-GMO Project Verified, USDA Organic, and Certified Regenerative by AGW. About California Olive Ranch Founded in 1998, California Olive Ranch is the largest grower of olives for extra virgin olive oil in the state of California. With a history of blending tradition with innovation in the cultivating, harvesting and milling of olives, the company is highly regarded for its award-winning, high quality and approachable olive oil. Selling a variety of oils, sauces, dressings and vinegars under the California Olive Ranch® and Lucini® brands, the company is committed to transparency and sustainable practices in both growing, and packaging, all while offering artisan quality at an accessible price point. California Olive Ranch also partners with numerous family farmers throughout the state of California as well as around the world to produce its products. These partners share the same high standards, sustainable farming practices and premium production methods. For more information, please visit About Seed Oil Free Certified™ The Seed Oil Free Alliance is a third-party certifying organization behind the world's first Seed Oil Free Certified™ Seal for qualifying food and consumer products. The Seed Oil Free Certified Seal guarantees that certified products have undergone auditing and independent laboratory testing to ensure the purity of added oils and refined fat ingredients. Supporting the Seed Oil Free Alliance in its mission to advance the availability of seed-oil-free food options through trust, transparency, and education is an advisory panel of public health and nutrition experts, led by Dr. Andrew Weil. More information can be found at View source version on Contacts Jonathan Rubinjonathan@ (561) 501-1710 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
27-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Radical Transparency Bears Fruit: California Olive Ranch Earns Seed Oil Free Certification
CHICO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rooted in innovation and radical transparency, California Olive Ranch has grown into the largest domestic grower of olives for Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) by challenging industry norms, ensuring the quality, authenticity, and integrity of their products for more than 20 years. As the first retail brand offering Extra Virgin Olive Oil to earn the Seed Oil Free Certified™ Seal, California Olive Ranch continues to elevate standards with certification across their full lineup of dressings, marinades, and avocado blend cooking oils. 'The Seed Oil Free Certified seal is a trusted indicator that our products meet the highest standards for transparency and quality. It reflects our commitment to offering products aligned with consumer values.' Mary Mori, VP of Product & Quality Share 'We pride ourselves on going above and beyond by proudly disclosing place-of-origin, harvest season, and quality testing results on every bottle of our cold-pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil,' said Mary Mori, VP of Product & Quality for California Olive Ranch. 'Seed Oil Free Certification guarantees customers who choose to avoid seed oils can confidently enjoy all our Extra Virgin Olive Oils, avocado blend, and vinaigrettes. It reflects our core value of radical transparency to continually verify all our products meet the highest standards of purity.' Known for their robust quality assurance program, California Olive Ranch are the first producers of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) to earn the Seed Oil Free Certified Seal, affirming that the brands' olive oils, avocado oil, flavored oils, vinaigrettes and marinades and other ingredients are free from seed oil adulteration and meet the highest quality standards. 'The Seed Oil Free Certified Seal offers verified assurance in a market where premium oils, especially extra virgin olive and avocado oils, are being sought out by consumers for their incredible flavor, health benefits, and heat stability,' said Jonathan Rubin, CEO and founder of the Seed Oil Free Alliance. 'California Olive Ranch has led the industry in innovation, sustainability, and quality assurance for decades. This dedication to what they call 'Radical Transparency' is why California Olive Ranch makes a perfect partner for Seed Oil Free Certification.' The certification process included lab testing for purity and comprehensive third-party audits of California Olive Ranch's supply chain and formulation practices. All tests are aligned with globally recognized standards, including the International Olive Council (IOC), Codex Alimentarius, and the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC). These protocols ensure that every Seed Oil Free Certified product is free from contamination with adulterants such as soybean, canola, and corn oil. To become Seed Oil Free Certified, the brand reformulated certain sauces and dressings by replacing carrier oils that contained trace amounts of seed oil with MCT oil. California Olive Ranch's commitment to purity, ingredient integrity, and consumer transparency is now represented with the Seed Oil Free Certified Seal (pictured). All California Olive Ranch and Lucini products bearing the Seed Oil Free Certified Seal can be found at and grocery stores nationwide. California Olive Ranch Lucini Brands like California Olive Ranch, which do not emphasize health trends around seed oils, recognize the importance of transparency in light of modern dietary shifts. Refined seed oils, virtually absent before the 20th century, now supply over 20% of daily calories for many Americans. Consumers are seeking healthy cooking oil alternatives or avoiding seed oils entirely, driven by a desire for more traditional and less industrially processed ingredients in the foods they choose. 'We rigorously evaluate all of the products made from our own cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and work closely with external certifying bodies like the Seed Oil Free Alliance because customers deserve to know they're buying the best,' said Mori. 'The Seed Oil Free Certified seal is a trusted indicator that our products meet the highest standards for transparency and quality. It reflects our commitment to offering products aligned with consumer values.' Winner of over 260 awards at international tasting competitions, California Olive Ranch is the nation's largest producer of olives for extra virgin olive oil. As a leading innovator in olive cultivation, harvesting, and milling, the company has remained dedicated to environmental stewardship, fanatical about quality, and operated with radical transparency since its founding in 1998. In addition to Seed Oil Free Certified, the company maintains several third-party certifications that meet the industry's highest standards, including Certified Extra Virgin, Non-GMO Project Verified, USDA Organic, and Certified Regenerative by AGW. About California Olive Ranch Founded in 1998, California Olive Ranch is the largest grower of olives for extra virgin olive oil in the state of California. With a history of blending tradition with innovation in the cultivating, harvesting and milling of olives, the company is highly regarded for its award-winning, high quality and approachable olive oil. Selling a variety of oils, sauces, dressings and vinegars under the California Olive Ranch® and Lucini® brands, the company is committed to transparency and sustainable practices in both growing, and packaging, all while offering artisan quality at an accessible price point. California Olive Ranch also partners with numerous family farmers throughout the state of California as well as around the world to produce its products. These partners share the same high standards, sustainable farming practices and premium production methods. For more information, please visit About Seed Oil Free Certified™ The Seed Oil Free Alliance is a third-party certifying organization behind the world's first Seed Oil Free Certified™ Seal for qualifying food and consumer products. The Seed Oil Free Certified Seal guarantees that certified products have undergone auditing and independent laboratory testing to ensure the purity of added oils and refined fat ingredients. Supporting the Seed Oil Free Alliance in its mission to advance the availability of seed-oil-free food options through trust, transparency, and education is an advisory panel of public health and nutrition experts, led by Dr. Andrew Weil. More information can be found at
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Seed Oil Free Certified Brands Announced Nationwide
Amid a surge in U.S. demand, the Seed Oil Free Alliance provides a simple way to shop for seed oil-free products BOCA RATON, Fla., May 06, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Seed Oil Free Alliance announced today the world's first Seed Oil Free Certified™ products, brands, and restaurants to meet surging U.S. demand. After a recent nationwide survey found that 28% of Americans actively avoid refined seed oils, health-conscious companies are searching for ways to eliminate them from their products and supply chain. A new online product finder enables shoppers to search for hundreds of products with the Seed Oil Free Certified designation. "Many people are choosing to avoid seed oils to rebalance their fat intake, reduce harmful byproducts formed during cooking and heating, and make space for more nutrient-rich foods," said Laurel Orley, CEO and co-founder of Daily Crunch. "The Seed Oil Free Certification process helps food brands eliminate harmful seed oils, allowing consumers to make informed decisions about their health." More than 40 brands displaying the Seed Oil Free Certified Seal have fulfilled strict quality standards to formulate their products without using seed oils. This includes sourcing fats and oils that meet stringent purity protocols, auditing for hidden seed oils in compound ingredients, and adhering to detailed verification procedures. "Seed Oil Free Certified is about ensuring that our customers have the information they need to make their own choices," said Vita Coco's CMO, Jane Prior. "The Seed Oil Free Seal signifies Vita Coco's commitment to responsibly sourced ingredients. Vita Coco Coconut M*LK stands out in the plant-based milk category with its rich and creamy taste, plus the added benefit of being completely seed oil free—making it the perfect addition to smoothies, refreshers, and more." Today, seed oils are in nearly everything, accounting for 20-30% of the average American's daily calories. They are far less expensive than traditional fats, making them attractive for processed foods and restaurants. Even healthy alternatives, like avocado oil, are often mislabeled or adulterated with cheaper seed oils. "Our snacks have always been free from seed oils, but we knew that wasn't enough. We needed independent verification," said Juan Fernando Niño, Director of Marketing at Artisan Tropic. "Our customers deserve full transparency when it comes to what they're eating. Earning the Seed Oil Free Certification makes us confident that our oil ingredients are pure and truthfully labeled."
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Seed Oil Free Certified Brands Announced Nationwide
BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Seed Oil Free Alliance announced today the world's first Seed Oil Free Certified™ products, brands, and restaurants to meet surging U.S. demand. After a recent nationwide survey found that 28% of Americans actively avoid refined seed oils, health-conscious companies are searching for ways to eliminate them from their products and supply chain. A new online product finder enables shoppers to search for hundreds of products with the Seed Oil Free Certified designation. 'Seed Oil Free Certified is about ensuring that our customers have the information they need to make their own choices,' said Vita Coco's CMO, Jane Prior. Share 'Many people are choosing to avoid seed oils to rebalance their fat intake, reduce harmful byproducts formed during cooking and heating, and make space for more nutrient-rich foods,' said Laurel Orley, CEO and co-founder of Daily Crunch. 'The Seed Oil Free Certification process helps food brands eliminate harmful seed oils, allowing consumers to make informed decisions about their health.' More than 40 brands displaying the Seed Oil Free Certified Seal have fulfilled strict quality standards to formulate their products without using seed oils. This includes sourcing fats and oils that meet stringent purity protocols, auditing for hidden seed oils in compound ingredients, and adhering to detailed verification procedures. 'Seed Oil Free Certified is about ensuring that our customers have the information they need to make their own choices,' said Vita Coco's CMO, Jane Prior. 'The Seed Oil Free Seal signifies Vita Coco's commitment to responsibly sourced ingredients. Vita Coco Coconut Milk stands out in the plant-based milk category with its rich and creamy taste, plus the added benefit of being completely seed oil free—making it the perfect addition to smoothies, refreshers, and more.' Today, seed oils are in nearly everything, accounting for 20-30% of the average American's daily calories. They are far less expensive than traditional fats, making them attractive for processed foods and restaurants. Even healthy alternatives, like avocado oil, are often mislabeled or adulterated with cheaper seed oils. 'Our snacks have always been free from seed oils, but we knew that wasn't enough. We needed independent verification,' said Juan Fernando Niño, Director of Marketing at Artisan Tropic. 'Our customers deserve full transparency when it comes to what they're eating. Earning the Seed Oil Free Certification makes us confident that our oil ingredients are pure and truthfully labeled.' Seed Oil Free Alliance recently launched a new product finder webpage, making it easy for shoppers to search for Seed Oil Free Certified products, restaurants, and wholesalers. Seed Oil Free Certified products are available nationwide and range across a broad spectrum of categories, including: Olive oil, avocado oil, and cooking oils Cookies, crackers, and chips Hummus and dips Chicken nuggets and prepared meats Nut mixes and nut butters Plant-based milks Protein and collagen bars Ice cream and frozen desserts Skincare products Restaurant meals and foodservice items The Seed Oil Free Certified inaugural class of 2025 includes a diverse roster of innovative brands: Vita Coco – Organic, plant-based, Seed Oil Free Certified Coconut Milk Every Body Eat® - clean and craveable crackers, cookies, and snacks that are allergen, corn, and seed oil free Daily Crunch – Uniquely Crunchy™ sprouted nut snacks made without seed oils Trubar – indulgent, plant-based, and Seed Oil Free Certified protein bars Habiza Hummus – rich, creamy hummus made with high-quality, minimally processed ingredients requiring no added seed oils Harbar (Maria and Ricardo's brand) – offering delicious, seed-oil-free tortillas from their Almond Grain Free line, certified to meet the highest ingredient standards Artisan Tropic – better-for-you plantain and cassava snacks made with pure, simple ingredients, free from seed oils Saturée – science-backed skincare formulated to optimise skin health, made without PUFA-rich seed oils, with only stable saturated fats, and pro-metabolic active ingredients Lemongrass Farms - refreshing non-GMO & Seed Oil Free Certified insect repellent safe for your whole family Grazly – offering thoughtfully-sourced meat snacks and provisions without added seed oils Beefy's Own Tallow Chips - bold, unbeatable flavor with zero seed oils Majama - irresistibly creamy, plant-based ice creams slow-churned without seed oils or refined sugars Patterbar® - 100% whole food, seed-oil-free bar that delivers convenience without compromise Zero Acre Farms – an all-purpose cooking oil paving the way for a future that's less dependent on seed oils Seed & Shell - simple, rich, and endlessly versatile pistachio-based spreads made with just a few clean ingredients and no seed oils These companies are part of a growing movement demonstrating that it is possible to create better products without relying on refined seed oils. For example, Seed Oil Free Certified Habiza Hummus would never compromise the quality of their family recipes with unnecessary seed oils. 'We started Habiza to bring people hummus the way my grandmother made it,' said Jonathan Srour, CEO of Habiza. 'Nearly every hummus brand uses seed oils. Nothing against them, but in my grandmother's kitchen, it would've been a cardinal sin to put canola oil in hummus. We partnered with Seed Oil Free Certified to do two things: to set the record straight that tahini is not a seed oil and to reinforce that seed oils, no matter how you feel about them, don't belong in hummus. At least not the kind my grandma made.' The full list of certified partners is available at All foods with added oil and fat ingredients bearing the Seed Oil Free Certified Seal undergo an auditing process that includes laboratory testing of oils and fats to ensure they are free from all seed oils, including soybean, corn, and canola. Permitted oils and refined fats include fruit oils such as olive, avocado, palm, & coconut oils; butter; and other refined animal fats. Any consumer packaged goods companies or restaurants that undergo the certification process are eligible to license the trademarked 'Seed Oil Free Certified' seal for display on qualifying product packages, menus, and marketing materials. 'The certification process was efficient, confidential, and educational,' reports Jeff Moreau II, co-founder of Lemongrass Farms. 'Seed Oil Free Alliance's team led us through each step and explained why ingredient audits are necessary to detect the presence of hidden seed oils. I recommend that anyone concerned about adulterated or hidden wholesale ingredients look into joining Lemongrass Farms and the many other innovative brands becoming Seed Oil Free Certified. This is a cornerstone of our innovation, a difference customers can instantly feel on their skin.' Foodservice and CPG brands interested in becoming Seed Oil Free Certified can check eligibility and request a copy of the Seed Oil Free Certification Standards at Companies that are not currently eligible are encouraged to contact the certification team, which may be able to assist with reformulation and sourcing seed-oil-free alternatives. About Seed Oil Free Certified: The Seed Oil Free Alliance is a third-party certifying organization behind the world's first Seed Oil Free Certified™ Seal for qualifying food and consumer products. The Seed Oil Free Certified™ Seal guarantees that certified products have undergone auditing and independent laboratory testing to ensure the purity of added oils and refined fat ingredients. Supporting the Seed Oil Free Alliance in its mission to advance the availability of seed oil-free food options—through trust, transparency, and education—is an advisory panel of leading public health and nutrition experts, led by Dr. Andrew Weil.
Fox News
22-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
'Seed oil-free' restaurants and foods get healthy stamp of approval
As more patrons of food service establishments embrace the Make America Healthy Again movement today, more restaurants also appear to be answering the call by promising seed oil-free dining experiences. But while plenty of restaurants can claim to be free of seed oil, there hasn't really been a way to reassure customers officially of that – until now. The Seed Oil Free Alliance was founded in 2023 "to raise awareness, improve transparency and educate consumers about the prevalence of seed oils in our food supply," according to the group's website. Co-founders Corey Nelson and Jonathan Rubin discovered that "there was no certification to verify that foods are actually seed oil-free," Nelson told Fox News Digital. They soon "realized there was an opportunity here to not only help consumers, but also to help companies – because it's more expensive to eliminate seed oils from most foods." The Seed Oil Free Alliance, based in Florida, is an independent certifying organization with a coalition of public health and nutrition experts as advisors. "Any legitimate certification body does have certifying standards," Nelson said. Those range from pre-certification testing to "post-certification surveillance where we can actually test foods once they're on the shelf," he said, "to ensure that companies are doing what they say that they're doing and that consumers can trust the seal." All foods and restaurants with the seal undergo laboratory testing to ensure they are free from all seed oils, including soybean, corn and canola oil. Olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, butter and other refined animal fats are permitted. Sometimes, seed oils are detected within ingredients that restaurant owners didn't anticipate. "We give them the choice," Nelson told Fox News Digital. "You know, you can walk away, no harm done, if it's not the right time to make the switch. Often, companies do switch, so then we have this opportunity to help them meet our standards." Erin Leeds, who owns the Garden Butcher in Boca Raton, Florida, said her restaurant was on track last year to be the first restaurant to receive the certification – that is, until the avocado oil she was using didn't pass the rigorous lab testing. "The tests indicated that [it was] not just the oil we were using, but many other avocado oils we were willing to switch to — all were adulterated in some way [and] suspected to have traces of sunflower oil," Leeds told Fox News Digital. "Where there's a will, there's a way." After over six months of trying to find a cost-effective solution, Leeds made progress with the help of Nelson and Rubin. She turned to algae oil from a company in California. "We bring in two pallets of algae oil every couple of months and use a storage facility to hold them," Leeds said. "Where there's a will, there's a way." On the other side of the country, Jennifer Peters had been going through the same testing at her Colorado restaurant. After doing so, Just BE Kitchen became the first restaurant in America to receive the certification. (See the video at the top of this article.) Peters said she was in the process of opening a second location when Nelson and Rubin gave her the news. "They actually called and said, 'Oh, you know what? There was oil adulteration in another company's oil and yours has passed. So you're the first restaurant that's seed oil-free certified,'" Peters told Fox News Digital. "That was pretty cool," she added. The Seed Oil Free Alliance doesn't just certify restaurants, though. Products like TruBar – a snack food made with all-natural ingredients like cassava flour and brown rice protein – have also received the certification. "I knew that I wanted to make that change." "I knew I wanted to change," Florida resident Erica Groussman, who owns TruBar, told Fox News Digital. "We only had a very small amount in our bars, but I knew that I wanted to make that change." For more Lifestyle articles, visit While businesses must pay a fee to become certified, Nelson said the price points "work really well for emerging brands like in the packaged foods industry or mom-and-pop-size restaurants." "I think from the consumer perspective, restaurants and packaged foods are equally important if you're looking to avoid seed oils," Nelson said. "But I think from the owner perspective, it's just much harder to get all the seed oils out of a restaurant as opposed to a packaged food." The goal, ultimately, Nelson said, "is to advocate and advance the availability of seed oil-free food options."
