Podcast Summary:
That Can't Be True with Chelsea Clinton
Episode: Setting the Record Straight on Seed Oils, Raw Milk & Formula with Dr. Jessica Knurick
Date: October 2, 2025
Host: Chelsea Clinton
Guest: Dr. Jessica Knurick (Registered Dietitian, PhD in Nutrition Science)
Episode Overview
This episode tackles rampant health misinformation about seed oils, raw milk, and infant formula, as well as the broader wave of pseudoscientific wellness trends gaining traction online and in policy. Host Chelsea Clinton talks with Dr. Jessica Knurick, a scientist and social media myth-buster who takes on the loudest claims from groups like Maha (Make America Healthy Again) and figures such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Together, they debunk major myths and provide evidence-backed answers for parents anxious about what’s really healthy for their kids.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Chronic Diseases & Blaming the CDC
- (01:44) Clip of HHS Secretary RFK Jr. blaming the CDC and public health institutions for the "chronic disease epidemic."
- Dr. Knurick's Response:
- CDC are advisors, not household regulators.
- "They're not in your household buying your groceries." (02:59, Dr. Knurick)
- High chronic disease rates are real, but blaming institutions distracts from real causes like food systems and policy.
- Chelsea: Notes current political moves to defund and undermine critical health agencies.
2. Dr. Knurick's Entry Into Myth-Busting
- (04:28) Online misinformation increased notably around 2022 (COVID, TikTok), especially around pregnancy and health.
- She felt compelled to fight back:
- "I felt like a responsibility to do it...I just started combating some of the misinformation I was seeing." (05:30, Dr. Knurick)
- Postpartum anxiety and the deluge of misinformation made her realize how much anxiety these narratives created for women and parents.
- Built an online community of women and began answering questions about Maha (Make America Healthy Again).
3. Seed Oils: Hype versus Reality
- (07:26) One of the most common questions is about “seed oils” being toxic.
- Dr. Knurick's Insight:
- No evidence seed oils (like sunflower, canola) are inflaming or harming us; epidemiological and interventional evidence show they're neutral or beneficial.
- The kernel of truth: Seed oils are prevalent in ultra-processed foods; it's the overconsumption of those foods, not the oil itself, that is negative. Using them in homemade cooking, as worldwide, is not problematic.
- Demonizing affordable oils creates socioeconomic shame:
- "You're causing unnecessary anxiety and shame in a person that, like, there's no reason for it." (9:55, Dr. Knurick)
- Chelsea: Jokes about the “olive oil conspiracy”—the confusing, shifting food narratives.
4. Infant Formula: Science & Misinformation
- (12:00) Formula has become a focus—demonized by natural wellness trends.
- Dr. Knurick's Points:
- Infant formula is a scientific triumph, saving and nourishing babies who can't nurse.
- All formulas worldwide use seed oils to mimic key nutritional profiles of breast milk. The negative hype around U.S. formulas is unfounded:
- "There's a narrative out there that, like, only we are using seed oils in the United States, and that's not true." (14:04, Dr. Knurick)
- Fearmongering about “toxicity” ignores decades of evidence and global scientific consensus.
5. Where Maha Gets It Right & Wrong
- (17:08)
- Problem Identification: Genuine chronic disease crisis; unhealthy food environments.
- Mistake: Maha blames “toxins,” regulatory institutions, and ignores structural reasons.
- Dr. Knurick: "When you get the causes wrong, you largely are going to get the solutions wrong." (18:11)
- Examples:
- Fluoride: Removing it, as suggested, would increase dental disease, disproportionately harming lower-income groups.
- Food dyes: Focusing just on removing dyes misses real food access, processing, and policy problems.
6. Advocacy & Real Change: What to Focus On
- (20:54) Instead of fixating on small “wins,” push for changes in:
- Food marketing (especially to kids and low-income communities)
- Agricultural policies supporting crop diversity and community food access
- Support for local producers (school and food bank grants)
- Policies that reduce systemic reliance on ultra-processed foods, rather than micro-targeting ingredients.
7. Critique of MAHA & Trump Administration’s Strategy
- (24:49)
- Policy recommendations are light on specificity, high on generalities.
- Contradiction: The administration deregulates chemical industries, which worsens soil and water contamination—the root of issues like heavy metals in baby food.
- Quotable: “There was very little in terms of what they're actually going to do.”
8. How to Talk About & Spot Misinformation
- (27:09)
- Distrust of expertise is growing, partly top-down.
- Building trust: Transparently explain why something is false and offer references.
- Many people are just anxious and overwhelmed, not willfully misled.
- Tips to Spot Misinformation:
- Sensationalism and fear-mongering headlines (“Are you poisoning your kids?”) (30:33)
- Misuse of chemistry/ingredient scare tactics
- Selling an alternative product at the end
- Conflating correlation with causation (“the best way to spread propaganda online is to show a graph…” - 33:00)
- Overly reductive mechanisms (e.g., “pickles have vitamin K, so just eat pickles instead of brushing your teeth”).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “They're not in your household buying your groceries.” (02:59, Dr. Knurick, on the CDC's actual purview)
- “You should not trust my opinion on how to fly an airplane as much as you should trust a pilot.” (27:39, Dr. Knurick, on expertise)
- “When you get the causes wrong, you… get the solutions wrong.” (18:11, Dr. Knurick)
- “Are you poisoning your kids?” (30:33, classic scare tactic online)
- Chelsea, tongue-in-cheek: “My nine year old told me the other day that we have enough iron in our bodies to make a three-inch nail.” (31:26)
Fact or Fiction Segment (Rapid Myths and Truths)
(34:39–39:43)
- Can you see "mitochondrial challenges" in children's faces?
- Fiction. “You cannot see mitochondrial challenges… you cannot look at a child and know if they have mitochondrial dysfunction.” (34:58)
- Is raw milk healthier than pasteurized milk?
- Fiction. Pasteurization saves lives, preventing foodborne illness. “Raw milk can harbor a lot of pathogens…” (35:40)
- Is beef tallow healthier to cook with than vegetable oils?
- Fiction. Beef tallow is a saturated fat with evidence suggesting an increased cardiovascular risk if consumed in excess. Replacing unsaturated fats with it is worse.
- Is Coca-Cola with cane sugar healthier than high-fructose corn syrup?
- Fiction. Both are sugar. The variants have negligible metabolic difference; the real issue is overall sugar intake. (38:34)
Episode Takeaways
- Critical Thinking is Key: Seek nuance, not hype. Beware of influencer sensationalism and simple solutions to complex problems.
- Challenge Misinformation with Evidence:
- Look for sensationalism, misrepresentation, and undisclosed sales motives.
- Value expertise—individuals dedicating careers to specific science know what they're talking about.
- Policy Solutions: Broader structural changes have the biggest impact on nutrition and health, not fear-driven ingredient-based micro-regulation.
- Encouragement: Trust can be rebuilt through transparent, accessible education—be open to questions and double-check the sources.
Key Segments & Timestamps
- [01:44] — RFK Jr. blames CDC for disease crisis
- [04:28] — Knurick's motivation and community
- [07:26] — Seed oils myth breakdown
- [12:00] — Formula facts and global perspectives
- [17:08] — Where Maha gets disease focus right/wrong
- [20:54] — Real advocacy for parents
- [24:49] — Critiques of policy "solutions"
- [27:09] — Building trust and combating misinformation
- [30:33] — Red flags for nutrition misinformation
- [34:39] — Fact or Fiction rapidfire mythbusting
Guest details:
You can find Dr. Jessica Knurick on TikTok, Instagram (@drjessicaknurick), and Substack.