Seed Oil Guide

Chain Restaurant Guides

What Oil Each Chain Uses

A factual breakdown of seed oil usage at major chains, based on each restaurant's published ingredient documentation. We report the data. You decide what it means for your goals.

Chipotle

Uses rice bran oil for cooking rice, beans, chicken, steak, and fajita vegetables. Carnitas and barbacoa are braised in their own fat. Guacamole has no added oil.

Chick-fil-A

Fries in 100% refined peanut oil per their published documentation. Soybean oil appears in sauces, crispy chicken breading, and buns. Grilled items do not use the fryer.

McDonald's

Fries in a canola-corn-soybean oil blend with TBHQ. Buns contain soybean oil. Most sauces list soybean oil as a primary ingredient. Beef patties contain no added oil per their ingredient list.

Panera Bread

Their 'clean' label covers artificial additives, not cooking oils. Dressings and baked goods list soybean oil. Some cream-based soups use dairy fat; verify current formulations before ordering.

Starbucks

Beverages (coffee, espresso, tea, dairy milk) have no seed oil contact. Food items (bakery, sandwiches, wraps) contain canola or soybean oil per published ingredient information. Oat milk contains canola oil.

Shake Shack

Uses canola oil for frying. Beef burgers contain no added oil in the patty.

Sweetgreen

Uses olive oil and avocado oil in most dressings per their published ingredient information. One of the few chains with a documented non-seed-oil default.

Cava

Uses olive oil as the primary cooking and dressing fat. Hummus, falafel, and grilled proteins are prepared without seed oils per their published information.

In-N-Out

Uses sunflower oil for frying. Sunflower oil is high in omega-6 linoleic acid. Beef patties contain no added oil.

Wingstop

Uses soybean oil for frying all wings. Most sauces also contain soybean oil.

Raising Cane's

Uses canola oil throughout. The Cane's sauce contains soybean oil.

Five Guys

Uses peanut oil for frying. Peanut oil has a lower linoleic acid percentage than soybean or canola oil, though it is still an industrially refined oil.

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