How Can I Tell the Difference Between Unrefined and Highly Processed Oil?

At Merlin's Unrefined, we thoroughly research our ingredients and how they are made to ensure they are as minimally processed as possible. In the case of the oil we use in our Chocolate Crisps, cacao butter, it is cold-pressed and packaged. That’s it. Minimal processing allows the cacao butter to retain more of its antioxidants and flavors.

On the other hand, most oils found in products are highly processed and are what you would call RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized) oils. These include canola, soybean, and corn oils which are not available in cold-pressed, unrefined versions.

You can learn more about consumable oil refining here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfk2IXlZdbI

Even then, you may see that an oil is cold-pressed, but that does not mean it is unrefined. Cold pressing is only an extraction method, but much of the time, a cold-pressed oil may still go through intense processing like bleaching and degumming. This further processing has been proven to produce trans fats and degrades the nutritional value of the oil.

Take for example, olive oil which is available in many grades: extra virgin, virgin, and light/pure. Extra virgin oil is cold-pressed and unrefined. Virgin oil is extracted by means of pressing, but it is not temperature controlled, so there is heat denaturing the oil. Light or pure oil is RBD oil, an ultra-processed product. So although light olive oil can be cold-pressed, be aware of that deceiving label because it goes through heavy refining to strip away its flavors and nutrients. This is extremely common with avocado oil which is usually found in it's refined version, but is commonly labeled as expeller-pressed or cold-pressed.

Well, why do companies refine oil if it’s not good for our health? Just as in the case of other processed products, they have a longer shelf-life. Refined oils also appeal to consumers since they have no flavor and are cheaper. It is a trade off of our health for convenience.

Can you completely cut out refined oils from your diet? – Yes, but it is not easy. You will discover that most packaged foods contain refined oil. Merlin's Unrefined knows that you deserve deliciousness and convenience in your favorite snacks, so we have dedicated ourselves to doing the research and having the highest ingredient standards for you.