The USDA’s Shocking “10-Second Rule” on Seed Oils

What They Don’t Want You to Know

Buckle up, friends because this is the kind of food industry nonsense that really gets me fired up. Let’s talk about the USDA’s “10-second rule”—a shady little loophole that lets companies fry food in seed oils without having to tell you.

Perdue recently confirmed in a letter that their breaded chicken products are flash-fried in soybean oil before being baked—but here’s the kicker: they don’t have to put that on the label. Say what?

According to the USDA, oil used in the frying process is considered an incidental additive (also known as: “it doesn’t reallllly count”), meaning it’s not required to be disclosed. So even though your food is literally fried in seed oils, they don’t have to list it as an ingredient. It’s like it never happened.

But it did happen.