Award-winning sauce maker reinforces its commitment to clean ingredients, transparency, and traditional homemade flavor
New UC Davis findings heighten the need for independent testing of premium oil claims
SANTA YNEZ, Calif., Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eat Happy Kitchen, one of the fastest-growing clean-label food brands in the country, announced that its entire line of gluten-free, no-sugar-added marinara sauces has been Seed Oil Free Certified by the Seed Oil Free Alliance. Unlike a label claim or supplier assurance alone, Seed Oil Free Certification includes independent laboratory testing of the olive oil for purity, a review of the supply chain and verification using defined standards. For Eat Happy Kitchen, that means consumers have third-party assurance that its certified pasta sauces contain authentic olive oil and are free from commonly used seed oils.
The certification comes as independent verification takes on new urgency following a study from UC Davis, one of the world’s leading universities for agricultural research, that was published in Applied Food Research. The study raised serious questions about the authenticity of premium oil claims in packaged foods. The study found that 48 of 54 processed foods marketed as containing avocado oil were adulterated with cheaper oils, even though avocado oil was the only oil listed as an ingredient. By contrast, only one of 20 olive oil-labeled processed foods failed the same purity tests. The products represented only a portion of the market, but the findings show why consumers and food brands need greater assurance about the oils actually used in packaged foods.
“The UC Davis study should be a wake-up call for our entire industry,” said Anna Vocino, Founder and CEO, Eat Happy Kitchen. “We deliberately put our sauces, and the extra virgin olive oil we use, through professional laboratory testing to demonstrate our authentic commitment to use exclusively clean ingredients. When consumers choose a product based on the oil named on the label, they have to be able to trust that it is what it says it is. We have always made our marinara sauces with quality tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and carefully selected seasonings, with no shortcuts. This certification gives consumers independent assurance that the ingredients we list are 100% accurate.”
Seed oil free products have become increasingly popular among consumers who follow clean-eating, low-carb, ketogenic, paleo, and whole-food lifestyles. Many shoppers are seeking recognizable ingredients and traditional cooking fats, such as olive oil.
Inspired by classic Italian recipes, Eat Happy Kitchen’s sauces are crafted with premium California tomatoes, herbs, spices, and extra virgin olive oil rather than highly refined industrial seed oils, paste and sodium like commoditized pasta sauces. The result stays true to culinary traditions while meeting the preferences of ingredient-conscious consumers.
Third-party certification provides a crucial layer of accountability. At a time when laboratory testing has exposed gaps between some ingredient labels and product contents, independent verification helps bridge the gap between what companies claim and what consumers can trust.
Consumers can learn more about Eat Happy Kitchen’s products and why being Seed Oil Free Certified matters at Founder Anna Vocino’s recent blog post.
About Eat Happy Kitchen
Eat Happy Kitchen is a woman-owned, premium food company founded by Anna Vocino, author of the bestselling Eat Happy series of cookbooks. Founded with the primary mission of making foods with the highest quality clean ingredients, always gluten-free, and with no added sugar, the company’s products currently include a line of five SKUs of pasta sauces, four spice blends, and three varieties of high-protein Cheese Bites snacks. For more information about Eat Happy Kitchen, visit www.eathappykitchen.com.
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SOURCE Eat Happy Kitchen
