WASHINGTON, April 1, 2026 – The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), the American Soybean Association (ASA), and the U.S. Canola Association (USCA) welcome the American Heart Association’s (AHA) new 2026 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health, which explicitly names soybean and canola oils as components of heart-healthy dietary patterns and recommends them as preferred sources of unsaturated fat for lowering coronary heart disease risk.
“Soybean and canola oils are among the most well-studied, heart-healthy oils available to American consumers,” said NOPA, ASA, and USCA in a joint statement. “They are affordable, widely accessible, and backed by decades of peer-reviewed research and consistent with guidance from leading health authorities. This guidance from the American Heart Association makes clear that the scientific consensus on these oils has not changed – and consumers and health professionals should feel confident about including them in a heart-healthy dietary pattern.”
The AHA statement draws on a substantial body of evidence linking the replacement of saturated fat with polyunsaturated vegetable oil to meaningful reductions in cardiovascular disease risk. Soybean and canola oils are both rich in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, and both provide essential fatty acids – linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA (a plant-based omega-3) – that the human body cannot produce on its own.
NOPA, ASA, and USCA remain committed to ensuring that Americans have access to clear, accurate, and evidence-based information about the nutritional value of vegetable oils – and will continue to advocate for science-based nutrition policy that reflects the full body of peer-reviewed evidence.
