Hayes Barton Place in Raleigh Becomes First Seed Oil Free Certified™ Senior Living Community in the U.S.
Hayes Barton Place in Raleigh, North Carolina, has become the first senior living community in the U.S. to receive the Seed Oil Free Certified™ Cooking Oil designation from the Seed Oil Free Alliance. This is the nation’s first certification program dedicated to increasing the availability of seed oil free food options. All oils and refined fats used in the community’s cooking operations were independently lab-tested to meet strict purity standards.
Opened in January and operated by Liberty Senior Living, Hayes Barton Place luxury senior living community chose to redefine wellness-focused dining by eliminating industrial seed oils, such as soybean, canola, corn, and sunflower oil, from its kitchen. These oils are common in commercial food prep due to their low cost but are often highly processed and rich in unstable polyunsaturated fats.
“We’ve long known that the quality of fats in our diet plays a profound role in inflammation, longevity, and overall well-being,” said Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., Integrative Medicine Pioneer and Scientific & Medical Advisor to the Seed Oil Free Alliance. “I’m encouraged to see Hayes Barton Place making meaningful changes. Eliminating seed oils from cooking is a practical and impactful step toward healthier aging.”
The culinary team at Hayes Barton Place has switched to house-made alternatives crafted from certified oils, including beef tallow mayo, olive oil mayo, Caesar dressing made with olive oil, and vinaigrettes using extra virgin olive oil. These substitutions enhance both flavor and nutritional value while supporting the community’s commitment to scratch cooking and health-conscious living.
“Awareness around healthier alternatives to seed oils is growing, and we wanted to be ahead of that curve,” said Robert Senter, Culinary Service Specialist at Liberty Senior Living. “We’ve fully transitioned to the more nutritious options.”
“Largely because of our overall commitment to wellness, we’re attracting more and more residents who are health conscious, and they appreciate us integrating best practices into everything we do, including food preparation,” said Nicole Cook, VP of Operations for Liberty Senior Living. “By becoming the first senior living community in the country to receive the Seed Oil Free Certified™ Cooking Oil designation, we’re making a clear statement: we believe our residents deserve the best, and that includes food prepared without highly refined, potentially harmful seed oils.”
The certification process involved a comprehensive audit of ingredient sourcing, documentation, and laboratory analysis to confirm that all oils used meet the Seed Oil Free Alliance’s standards.
The Hayes Barton Place’s dining philosophy is centered on from-scratch cooking, organic and locally sourced ingredients, and wholesome alternatives. In doing so, they ensure that all meals are delicious and aligned with the community’s deep commitment to holistic wellness.
Hayes Barton Place
Located on more than seven of the most sought-after acres of Raleigh, North Carolina, Hayes Barton Place is a luxury rental Life Plan Community. Just steps from shops and restaurants, Hayes Barton Place, includes 214 independent residences in apartments, flats, and terraces. The community boasts amenities on par with luxury resorts, include concierge services, a salon and spa, a library, a state-of-the-art fitness center with a saltwater pool and hot tub, and more. Hayes Barton Place offers access to all levels of care in addition to independent living, including assisted living, memory support, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing in the Bloomsbury Health Center. Hayes Barton Place is owned and operated by Liberty Senior Living, LLC, a division of Liberty Health that specializes in senior living and retirement communities. To learn more about Hayes Barton Place visit www.HayesBartonPlace.com. To learn more about Liberty Senior Living and the communities they offer, visit www.LibertySeniorLiving.com.
Seed Oil Free Certified™
The Seed Oil Free Alliance is a third-party certifying organization behind the world’s first Seed Oil Free Certified™ Seal for qualifying food and consumer products. The Seed Oil Free Certified Seal guarantees that certified products have undergone auditing and independent laboratory testing to ensure the purity of added oils and refined fat ingredients. Supporting the Seed Oil Free Alliance in its mission to advance the availability of seed-oil-free food options through trust, transparency, and education is an advisory panel of leading public health and nutrition experts, led by Dr. Andrew Weil. More information can be found at seedoilfreecertified.com.