Pressburger has become a popular lunch spot for St. Luke’s students and many residents of the town of New Canaan. Press Burger is known for its high-quality fast food, as the ingredients are not the same as those in the usual fast food order. The owners, Seth Leifer and John Gallager, made it their mission to make fast food of the highest quality: “Our goal is to create a fun and energetic hamburger and hot dog joint for small local towns and communities that are looking for something cleaner and nicer than the average fast casual restaurant.” While they are known for their fresh meats and ingredients, the specialty of Pressburger comes in the preparation; The use of what the company called Fera Fruit Oil from a company called Zero Acre. The growing fear in the fast food industry has been the use of seed oils to cook food, which can lead to many different health problems. However, making the switch to fruit oil can improve the quality of taste and the health of consumers. With fast food spots like Press Burger switching to healthier options, there is hope for the next generation of fast food destinations and cooks at home to make the healthier switch.

The use of seed oils has been a rising concern for many Americans, as the oils are used to make ultra-processed foods. Many believe the seed oils to be toxic and inflammatory, but studies show that the oils have no effect on the body unless eaten in large portions. However, with fast food, the oil is being used a lot, and in many different circumstances. The Zero Acre website says that seed oils like canola and soybean oil have a ton of polyunsaturated fat, which, when heated, like in a deep fryer, could leave a greasy finish, off-flavors, and unwanted toxins. 

Registered dietitians like Julia Zumpano aren’t against seed oils every now and then, but are against them when used constantly. Zumpano understands the dangers of the over-processed oil, and explains the gross process of making such oil: “Seed oils are chemically processed, which may include cleaning, pressing, bleaching, deodorizing, refining, and, in some cases, adding a chemical solvent hexane for oil extraction,” Zumpano explains. “The processing of these oils strips the seeds of their nutrients and could potentially add harmful ingredients.” Zumpano also knows seed oil’s connection to eating at restaurants and eating fast food, and warns about the constant absorption of these oils: “Most seed oils are utilized in the form of packaged foods, fast foods, and eating out, and that’s where most of the danger lies… (seed oils) are already in abundance in Western diets. So, if a certain food is high in oils that contain a lot of omega-6s, you really want to try to eat them only in moderation.” Zumpano’s warnings must not be taken lightly in the Western world, as the use of seed oils can inflame the body to a whole new level. This inflammation can cause arthritis, heart disease, etc.

Another fear of the use of seed oils is the excess amount of calories being added to your food. A bottle of Crisco pure canola oil says that a serving is one tablespoon for 130 calories, which isn’t a terrible amount of calories at face-value. However, each bottle has about 96 servings of oil, and if the oil isn’t measured precisely, like in fast food restaurants, you could be consuming hundreds of excess calories. This makes it hard for fast food companies to put a calorie estimation on their food, as the excess calories are too high to count. This unregulated use of seed oils hurts everyone’s health, as many consumers don’t know the health risk they may stumble upon if they eat food cooked in ultra-processed oil. These calories could lead to weight gain, heart issues, hormonal dysfunction, etc. 

With many fast food companies still using seed oils, it is important to give places such as Press Burger their respect for trying. If a restaurant uses seed oils, it isn’t the end of the world, and you should still be able to enjoy a delicious burger and fries. However, restaurants that work with companies such as Zero Acre should become role models for restaurants around the state and in the country. Zero acres’ Fera Fruit Oil is a step in the right direction; An oil that is pressed from antioxidant-rich fruit grown on organic regenerative farms. The fruit comes from a South American palm tree known as oleifera x guineensis, a relative of other palm trees that produce coconuts and dates. The fruit is made into oil for its healthy monounsaturated fats, but it also cooks food with a cleaner taste that chefs prefer. With Fera Fruit Oil, food at Pressburger is crispier and less greasy, has no off-taste, and has no chemical solvents. It is fascinating to see the sheer difference of using Fruit oils to make your food rather than seed oils, but with the price of healthier oils being less reasonable than seed oils, many restaurants might not have the money or will to make the healthy switch. However, the ones who have deserve a pat on the back for their efforts to make cleaner food.  

Multiple restaurants who work with Zero Acre have spoken out about how important it is to have clean oil that makes delicious food. Nile, a co-founder for a donut shop in Los Angeles called Holey Grail, makes it a priority to use Fera Fruit Oil when making donuts, and loves the freshness of the oil over time: “We take our ingredients very seriously. Fera Fruit Oil stays consistently fresh; it doesn’t degrade in the same way as previous oils, and there are arguably many improvements to health aspects by using this oil to fry our donuts at Holey Grail.” A story coming all the way from Los Angeles shows the reach of Zero Ancre, while they also work with other restaurants in New York, Washington D.C., California, and more. While Press Burger is the first restaurant in Connecticut to use oil from Zero Acre farms, the hope is to see the use of healthier fruit oils skyrocket.  

In a society of ultra-processed, high calorie foods, the American people want a healthier cooking process when going out to eat and eating at home. With the use of seed oils, Americans are facing unnecessary health problems, and removing them from our kitchens will be beneficial for American citizens in many ways. Swapping out the seed oils for fruit oils will bring a whole new dining experience with clean, delicious food. Making the switch to oils should be the main priority of kitchens across the country, as you should not develop health problems from enjoying the foods you love, such as a delicious burger and fries.