The Food and Drug Administration issued a final ruling stating trans fat will need to be phased out of the American diet by June of 2018. Hydrogenated soybean oil is used in food applications, such as frying and baking and contains trans fat. That is why the soybean industry developed high oleic soybean varieties, which yield a trans fat free oil similar to olive oil. Past United Soybean Board Chair, Jim Call of Minnesota thinks the industry will be ready to meet the market demands.
He says both DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto have developed high oleic varieties and will have seed available once both the European Union and China approve the trait. Call says production will ramp up quickly after those approvals.
He says soybean oil has lost market share due to the trans fat issue, so high oleic soybeans will help soybean producers gain back the market. Many food companies have already expressed an interest in using this oil.
