Thorntons Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Thorntons cooks with: soybean/canola (fryer items: tenders, wings, donuts, hashbrowns, potato wedges, corn dogs); butter/shortening in biscuits & bakery. Thorntons does not publicly disclose fryer oil brand/type; soybean/canola assumed per typical US convenience-store default. Across the 40 menu items we analyzed, it averages 7.4g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
Safest Orders at Thorntons
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
Cleanest full order: Hot & Spicy Wings + Bourbon Vanilla Latte, 9.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Blue Raspberry FizzFreez | 0.0g |
| Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage | 2.0g |
| All Beef Hot Dog | 2.0g |
| Salted Pretzel | 2.0g |
| Buffalo Chicken Rollerbite | 3.0g |
What to Avoid at Thorntons
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Supreme Pizza | 17.0g |
| Sausage Egg & Cheese Pizza | 17.0g |
| Sausage Pizza | 15.0g |
| Bacon Egg & Cheese Burrito | 15.0g |
| 7" Philly Beef Sub | 14.0g |
Every Thorntons item, ranked
All 40 items we have for Thorntons, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Bourbon Vanilla Latte | 0.0g |
| Hot Chocolate | 0.0g |
| Dr. Pepper FizzFreez | 0.0g |
| Blue Raspberry FizzFreez | 0.0g |
| Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage | 2.0g |
| All Beef Hot Dog | 2.0g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie | 2.0g |
| Salted Pretzel | 2.0g |
| Buffalo Chicken Rollerbite | 3.0g |
| Blueberry Muffin | 3.0g |
| Canadian Bacon Egg & Cheese Croissant | 4.0g |
| Grilled Cheese | 4.0g |
| Glazed Donut | 4.0g |
| Corn Dog | 4.0g |
| Hashbrown | 4.0g |
| Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit | 5.0g |
| Cheeseburger | 5.0g |
| Cheese Steak Burrito | 5.0g |
| Potato Wedge | 5.0g |
| Sausage Egg & Cheese Bagel | 7.0g |
| 7" Turkey & Cheese Sub | 8.0g |
| Baja Fajita Burrito | 8.0g |
| 1/4 Lb. Hamburger | 9.0g |
| Hot & Spicy Wings | 9.0g |
| Chicken Tenders | 10.0g |
| Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 10.0g |
| Cheese Pizza | 10.0g |
| Chipotle Steak Burrito | 10.0g |
| Western Breakfast Pizza | 11.0g |
| 1/4 Lb. Bacon Cheeseburger | 11.0g |
| Pepperoni Pizza | 12.0g |
| 7" Chicken Parmesan Sub | 12.0g |
| Sausage Egg & Cheese Burrito | 12.0g |
| 7" Classic Italian Sub | 13.0g |
| 1/4 Lb. Jalapeño Cheddar Burger | 13.0g |
| 7" Philly Beef Sub | 14.0g |
| Sausage Pizza | 15.0g |
| Bacon Egg & Cheese Burrito | 15.0g |
| Supreme Pizza | 17.0g |
| Sausage Egg & Cheese Pizza | 17.0g |
Frequently asked
Does Thorntons use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Thorntons cooks with: soybean/canola (fryer items: tenders, wings, donuts, hashbrowns, potato wedges, corn dogs); butter/shortening in biscuits & bakery. Thorntons does not publicly disclose fryer oil brand/type; soybean/canola assumed per typical US convenience-store default. Across the 40 menu items we analyzed, it averages 7.4g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does Thorntons cook with?
Our research indicates: soybean/canola (fryer items: tenders, wings, donuts, hashbrowns, potato wedges, corn dogs); butter/shortening in biscuits & bakery. Thorntons does not publicly disclose fryer oil brand/type; soybean/canola assumed per typical US convenience-store default. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Thorntons use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Thorntons cooks with soybean/canola (fryer items: tenders, wings, donuts, hashbrowns, potato wedges, corn dogs); butter/shortening in biscuits & bakery. Thorntons does not publicly disclose fryer oil brand/type; soybean/canola assumed per typical US convenience-store default, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Thorntons seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Thorntons cooks with soybean/canola (fryer items: tenders, wings, donuts, hashbrowns, potato wedges, corn dogs); butter/shortening in biscuits & bakery. Thorntons does not publicly disclose fryer oil brand/type; soybean/canola assumed per typical US convenience-store default, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Thorntons?
Blue Raspberry FizzFreez is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Thorntons, at an estimated 0.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Thorntons?
Supreme Pizza is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Thorntons, at an estimated 17.0g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.
Compare other chains
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See where Thorntons lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.