Zero Acre Farms is on a mission to dent the $186 billion cooking oil market, and Shake Shack helps it get there. The fast-casual restaurant chain has partnered with the startup and is at present trialing its sugarcane oil in two New York areas. In keeping with Zero Acre Farms, the oil is much extra sustainable than soybean oil, and it could be higher for our well being. Right here’s what we all know.
What’s the new Shake Shack cooking oil?
Zero Acre Farms’ new oil is comprised of sugarcane, which is a kind of tall, perennial grass historically utilized in sugar manufacturing. The model sources the grass from South America, earlier than fermenting its uncooked sugar in tanks. This naturally breaks down the sugar, says Zero Acre, and converts it into oil. It’s similar to the alcohol fermentation course of, which is utilized in beer and wine manufacturing. “The result’s a cooking oil excessive in wholesome fat with a clear, impartial style,” notes the model.
Presently, in most of its areas, Shake Shack depends on soybean oil to prepare dinner its Crinkle Lower Fries, Veggie Shacks, Shroom Burgers, and extra. This is similar for a lot of fast-food chains. Burger King, for instance, makes use of a mix of corn, canola, soy, and cottonseed oil, and the scenario is analogous at McDonald’s areas.
Shake Shack
Is Shake Shack’s new cooking oil higher on your well being?
In keeping with Zero Acre Farms, sugarcane oil is healthier for our well being, as a result of it’s excessive in monounsaturated fats and low in saturated fats.
Analysis suggests monounsaturated fat may also help decrease LDL ldl cholesterol, which, in flip, lowers the danger of coronary heart illness and stroke. Saturated fats, then again, can result in a rise in ldl cholesterol if consumed in excessive portions. In keeping with Harvard Well being, most diet consultants suggest that folks restrict saturated fats consumption to below 10 % of their energy every day.
It’s positively a optimistic that Zero Acre Farms’ sugarcane oil is low in saturated fats. However, that mentioned, it’s essential to notice that whereas seed oils have been demonized on social media just lately, many scientists preserve that there isn’t proof to counsel that oils like soybean or canola are poisonous.
“Whereas it’s true that many meals that use seed oils—akin to packaged snacks and French fries—are unhealthy, in addition they are typically excessive in refined carbohydrates, sodium, and sugar,” reads a publish from the Harvard College of Public Well being. “However these different elements, not the seed oils themselves, are the offender behind weight acquire and different detrimental well being outcomes.”
The publish additionally notes that heating unsaturated fat to excessive temperatures repeatedly could also be a well being threat. That is extra more likely to occur in fast-food chains (not whenever you’re cooking at house).
It’s additionally essential to notice that whereas making higher cooking oil selections is useful for well being, this doesn’t take away from the dangers posed by most of the merchandise served at fast-food and fast-casual chains like Shake Shack and McDonald’s.
Processed meat, for instance, is classed by the World Well being Group as a Group One carcinogen. Consumption can be linked with the next threat of different continual illnesses, together with coronary heart illness and dementia.
Zero Acre Farms
Is Shake Shack’s new cooking oil higher for the planet?
Whereas a major majority of the fast-food trade’s environmental impression is linked to meat consumption (beef manufacturing is the main driver of deforestation, for instance), swapping to Zero Acre Farms’ oil could also be a step in the direction of a barely extra sustainable provide chain for Shake Shack.
It is because sugarcane oil appears to be much less resource-intensive as its manufacturing depends on pure rainwater irrigation. This, the model notes, permits it to supply a cooking oil that makes use of 99 % much less water than olive oil. The sugarcane oil additionally makes use of 87 % much less land than canola oil.
“Like many meals companies, our menu gadgets rely on the pure surroundings so we will proceed serving visitors the meals they love,” Jeffrey Amoscato, Senior Vice President of Provide Chain and Menu Innovation at Shake Shack, mentioned in a press release. “It’s why we’re repeatedly exploring new methods to cut back our environmental footprint, together with partnerships with corporations like Zero Acre who’re creating sustainable meals options.”
Zero Acre Farms compares sugarcane harvesting to “mowing the garden,” as a result of it doesn’t contain ripping the vegetation out of the soil. In distinction, the soybean trade is linked with widespread deforestation. That mentioned, most of this manufacturing will not be used for human consumption, however reasonably animal feed. The truth is, in response to the World Wildlife Fund, almost 80 % of the world’s soybean crop is fed to livestock.
The brand new Zero Acre Farms oil isn’t a sustainable silver bullet for Shake Shack, however it does appear to be a step in the fitting course—particularly when it’s paired with meatless choices, which the model is bettering. For extra on easy methods to order vegan at Shake Shack, discover our information right here.
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Charlotte is a author and editor primarily based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
