Soybean Oil & Fully Hydrogenated Soybean Oil

Soybean oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the soybean plant. Fully hydrogenated soybean oil is soybean oil that has undergone a process called hydrogenation, which adds hydrogen to make it more solid and stable. This process can also create trans fats, but fully hydrogenated oils contain negligible amounts.

Soybean oil is used as a cooking oil and as an ingredient in many processed foods, providing richness and texture. Fully hydrogenated soybean oil acts as a stabilizer and texturizer, helping to prevent separation and improve the mouthfeel of products like baked goods and spreads.

Soybean oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for food use. Fully hydrogenated soybean oil is also permitted by the FDA. While hydrogenation can create trans fats, the process used for fully hydrogenated oils results in very little trans fat. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting saturated fat to less than 10% of daily calories, and fully hydrogenated oils are solid fats that contribute to saturated fat intake.