Public health school slips up on fatty acids in article

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Created on 14, October, 2025

A school of public health’s article about seed oils says health benefits come from the linoleic and alpha-linoleic essential fatty acids in these oils, and states that “high amounts” of these beneficial polyunsaturated fats exist in seaweed, among other foods…

There is no such thing as alpha-linoleic fatty acid. They mean alpha-linolenic acid (with a second “n”).

As for seaweed being high in fatty acids… they are low in fat in general, so it is not possible for them to be a great source of any particular fatty acid (assuming there were a Daily Value established for fatty acids, which there isn’t). They contain some, but not “high amounts” on a per-serving basis.