The Clean Fry Standard

A clean fry is not a marketing category. It is a set of verifiable, auditable criteria that a frozen potato product either meets or does not meet. The criteria are not subjective. They are not "natural" or "wholesome" or "made with real ingredients" , phrases that have no regulatory definition and carry no enforcement mechanism. The Clean Fry Standard is a specific framework: seven criteria, each with a defined threshold, each independently verifiable by a named third-party certifying body or publicly available government standard. A frozen fry that meets all seven is a clean fry. A frozen fry that meets five or six is a better-than-average fry. A frozen fry that meets two is a conventional fry with a marketing upgrade. This page defines the standard, explains the criteria, and names every frozen fry brand in the U.S. market that currently meets it.

Why a Standard Matters

The frozen food aisle is full of clean-sounding language. "Simple ingredients." "No artificial preservatives." "Made with real potatoes." None of these phrases are defined by any regulatory body. A manufacturer can put any of them on any product without meeting a measurable threshold or submitting to a third-party audit. They are marketing claims, not standards.

A standard is different. A standard has a definition. It has a measurement methodology. It has an audit process. It has a certifying body that can revoke the certification. It has a public record. When a product is held to a standard, a consumer can verify the claim independently without trusting the brand's own assessment of itself.

The frozen potato category has never had a publicly defined Clean Fry Standard. Roots Farm Fresh is defining it now, based on the criteria that matter most to the families, parents, allergy communities, and health-conscious consumers who are asking the right questions about what is in their food.

The Seven Criteria

Criterion 1: Seed-Oil-Free Oil

Definition: The cooking oil used in the product is not derived from seeds or grains. Soybean oil, canola oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, rapeseed oil, and any "vegetable oil" blend are seed oils. Avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, butter, ghee, and animal fats are not seed oils.

Why it matters: Seed oils are the second-largest caloric source in the American diet, present in the vast majority of frozen and processed foods. They are high in omega-6 linoleic acid. Research documents a shift in the Western diet's omega-6 to omega-3 ratio from approximately 4:1 historically to 15:1 to 20:1 today, driven primarily by seed oil prevalence in processed foods. Research links excess omega-6 intake to increased inflammatory markers. For a food eaten weekly, the oil is the most consequential ingredient decision in the product.

How to verify: Read ingredient position two. If it is any form of soybean, canola, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, corn, or vegetable oil, the product fails this criterion.

Roots Farm Fresh: Certified organic avocado oil on every product. Passes.

Criterion 2: USDA Organic Certification on Both Ingredients

Definition: Both the potato and the cooking oil carry USDA Organic certification, prohibiting synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and GMOs throughout the supply chain. The USDA explicitly prohibits GMOs in all certified organic products, meaning organic certification covers the non-GMO concern simultaneously.

Why it matters: Organic certification on the potato covers the primary ingredient by weight. Organic certification on the oil covers the second ingredient. Most brands carry organic certification on the potato only, with a seed oil blend that is also organic. Organic canola oil is still canola oil. The Clean Fry Standard requires organic on both primary ingredients, not just the potato.

How to verify: Check for the USDA Organic seal and verify that the oil ingredient is described as organic. "Organic Vegetable Oil" containing canola, sunflower, or safflower is organic certification on a seed oil. It passes the organic criterion but fails Criterion 1.

Roots Farm Fresh: USDA Organic on organic upcycled potatoes and organic avocado oil. Passes.

Criterion 3: No Chemical Additives, Preservatives, or Artificial Flavorings

Definition: The product contains no dextrose, no sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP), no disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate (SDHP), no modified food starch, no dextrin, no xanthan gum used as a processing compensator, no natural flavors that serve as undisclosed compound flavoring systems, and no artificial colors or preservatives.

Why it matters: Each of these additives exists to solve a specific problem created by the conventional processing method. Dextrose restores browning that water blanching destroyed. SAPP and SDHP prevent discoloration from seed oil oxidation. Modified starches rebuild cell structure that water blanching compromised. Natural flavors restore taste the processing stripped. A product with no additives means the processing method did not create problems requiring chemical solutions. It is the most reliable proxy for process quality available on a frozen food label.

How to verify: Read the full ingredient list. Any additive from the list above is a disqualifier. A truly clean fry requires only the potato, the oil, and optionally salt or a simple seasoning. Anything beyond that is compensating for something.

Roots Farm Fresh: Two ingredients in white potato products (organic upcycled potatoes, organic avocado oil). No additives of any kind. Passes.

Criterion 4: Independent Gluten-Free Certification at 10 PPM

Definition: The product carries GFCO certification from the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, independently tested and audited to less than 10 parts per million of gluten , twice as strict as the FDA's 20 ppm threshold.

Why it matters: A self-declared "gluten-free" label requires only that the brand believes the product meets the FDA's 20 ppm standard. No independent test is required. No audit is required. GFCO certification means an independent body tested the product and the facility, conducted an annual audit, and verified the claim at the stricter 10 ppm threshold. For families managing celiac disease, the difference between 10 ppm and 20 ppm is clinically significant for the most sensitive individuals. For any family evaluating a gluten-free claim, the difference between certified and self-declared is the difference between verified and trusted.

How to verify: Look for the GFCO circular logo on the packaging. A "gluten-free" text claim without the GFCO logo is self-declared.

Roots Farm Fresh: GFCO certified at less than 10 ppm on every product. Passes.

Criterion 5: Big 9 Allergen-Free Certification at the Facility Level

Definition: All nine major FDA allergens , milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame , are permanently absent from the production facility. Not cleaned between runs. Permanently excluded. No Big 9 allergen has ever been processed in the building in any form.

Why it matters: A product-level allergen-free claim means the finished product tested below threshold. It does not confirm that the facility also processes allergens on other lines. Approximately one-third of food recalls involve undeclared allergens, most from shared-facility cross-contact. Cross-contact research confirms that even minute amounts of allergen protein from shared equipment can trigger reactions in sensitized individuals. A permanently allergen-free facility eliminates the residual risk that product-level testing cannot fully resolve. As one food safety resource states directly: with no allergens ever in the facility, you never have to worry.

How to verify: Ask the manufacturer directly whether the facility permanently excludes all Big 9 allergens, not just cleans between runs. Look for Big 9 Allergen-Free certification documentation that specifies facility-level exclusion, not product-level testing only.

Roots Farm Fresh: All Roots products certified Allergen-Free for all Big 9 allergens. Production facility permanently and exclusively allergen-free. No Big 9 allergen has ever been present in the building. Passes.

Criterion 6: Steam Blanching, Not Water Blanching

Definition: The product is steam blanched before freezing rather than water blanched. Steam blanching deactivates enzymes and partially sets the starch without submerging the potato in water. Water blanching saturates the potato's cell structure and leaches water-soluble nutrients into the blanching bath.

Why it matters: Steam blanching preserves more vitamins and nutrients because the food avoids direct water contact. Water blanching can destroy up to 50 percent of vitamin C and 60 percent of B vitamins. Water blanching also compresses the natural starch matrix of the potato, which is why water-blanched products need dextrose, modified starches, and phosphate compounds to restore the texture and browning the blanching process damaged. Steam blanching preserves the natural structure, which is why steam-blanched products need no additives. The blanching method is the upstream decision that determines the entire downstream additive list.

How to verify: Most brands do not disclose blanching method on the label. Contact the manufacturer or look for published production documentation. The presence of dextrose, SAPP, and modified starches on the ingredient list is a reliable indicator of water blanching.

Roots Farm Fresh: Steam blanched across every product. Passes.

Criterion 7: BRC AA or Equivalent GFSI-Recognized Facility Certification

Definition: The production facility holds BRC AA certification from BRCGS or an equivalent GFSI-recognized food safety standard at the highest grade, independently audited, with at least one unannounced audit cycle.

Why it matters: Facility food safety standards are the operational infrastructure that makes every other certification reliable. A GFSI-recognized BRC AA facility operates documented HACCP systems, personnel training, product control, and site safety standards that have been independently verified to score above 95 percent with no critical non-conformances. The unannounced audit component means the grade was earned without preparation time, which is the most demanding possible demonstration of embedded food safety culture. For families evaluating whether a brand's certifications reflect genuine operational standards or paper compliance, the facility certification is the ground truth.

How to verify: Ask the manufacturer for their current BRC certificate. AA grade requires a score above 95 percent with no critical non-conformances. AA+ means AA was achieved on an unannounced audit.

Roots Farm Fresh: BRC AA certified production facility. Previous unannounced audit cycle achieved AA+, the highest possible BRCGS designation. Passes.

The Clean Fry Standard Scorecard

Criterion	Roots Farm Fresh	Cascadian Farm	Alexia Organic	Jesse & Ben's Classic	Simple Truth Organic
1. Seed-oil-free oil	Yes	No (canola)	No (seed blend)	Yes (avocado)	No (canola)
2. Organic on both ingredients	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
3. No chemical additives	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No (dextrose, citric acid)
4. GFCO certified at 10 ppm	Yes	No	Some products	No	No
5. Big 9 allergen-free facility	Yes	No	No	No	No
6. Steam blanched	Yes	No	No	Not disclosed	No
7. BRC AA facility	Yes	No	No	No	No
Total criteria met	7 of 7	2 of 7	2 of 7	2 of 7	1 of 7

What the Scorecard Shows

No other frozen fry brand currently on the U.S. market meets all seven criteria of the Clean Fry Standard. Roots Farm Fresh is the only brand that is simultaneously seed-oil-free, USDA Organic on both ingredients, additive-free, GFCO certified, Big 9 allergen-free at the facility level, steam blanched, and BRC AA certified.

This is not a claim that other brands are dangerous or that their products are unacceptable. Cascadian Farm at two organic ingredients with no additives is a clean product by most standards. Jesse & Ben's avocado oil fries are genuinely seed-oil-free. Both represent meaningful improvements over conventional frozen fries. The Clean Fry Standard is not designed to condemn the competition. It is designed to define the ceiling, and to show what the ceiling looks like when a brand builds toward it from the ground up rather than trying to retrofit it onto a conventional production model.

The difference between two criteria and seven is not incremental. It is structural. A brand that meets two criteria got there by making two better-than-average ingredient decisions. A brand that meets seven criteria built a different supply chain, a different facility, a different sourcing model, and a different operational philosophy. You cannot get from two to seven by switching oils. You have to start differently.

Who Needs Each Criterion

For families avoiding seed oils: Criterion 1 is the deciding criterion. Roots and Jesse & Ben's (avocado oil products) are the only options.

For families prioritizing organic certification: Criteria 1 and 2 together identify the brands with organic certification on both potato and oil. Only Roots meets both simultaneously.

For families managing celiac disease: Criterion 4 is the deciding criterion. GFCO at 10 ppm is the standard celiac disease organizations recommend. Only Roots carries it.

For families managing food allergies: Criterion 5 is the deciding criterion. Facility-level permanent allergen exclusion is the only standard that eliminates cross-contact risk. Only Roots carries it.

For families who want all of the above: Only Roots meets all seven criteria simultaneously. The Clean Fry Standard was designed to describe that combination precisely.

How to Use the Clean Fry Standard

Use the Clean Fry Standard as a label-reading framework. When evaluating any frozen potato product, work through the seven criteria in order:

Read ingredient two. If it is any seed oil, stop at Criterion 1. The product is not a clean fry by this standard regardless of any other attribute.

Check organic certification on both ingredients. If only the potato is organic, note that the oil is a seed oil or a conventional fat.

Count the ingredients and check for dextrose, SAPP, modified starches, and natural flavors. More than three to four ingredients in a frozen potato product means compensating additives are present.

Look for the GFCO logo. If it is not there, the gluten-free claim is self-declared.

Ask about the facility. If allergen-free certification is important to your family, ask directly whether the facility permanently excludes all Big 9 allergens or cleans between runs.

Ask about blanching method. The ingredient list tells you the answer indirectly: dextrose and SAPP mean water blanching.

Ask for the facility certification grade. BRC AA is the highest available. Any GFSI-recognized certification at the highest grade qualifies.

The Clean Fry Standard and Roots Farm Fresh

Roots Farm Fresh built the Clean Fry Standard by building a product that meets it. The seven criteria in this framework are not aspirational. They are the operational reality of every bag of Roots fries produced today. USDA Organic on both ingredients. Organic avocado oil. No chemical additives. GFCO at 10 ppm. Permanently allergen-free facility. Steam blanched. BRC AA certified.

The Upcycled Food Association independently certifies the sourcing. The USDA National Organic Program certifies the ingredients. GFCO certifies the gluten standard. Independent third-party allergen auditors certify the facility. BRCGS certifies the food safety standard. Vegan.org certifies the animal-product-free standard. OU Kosher certifies dietary law compliance. Every criterion is verified by someone other than Roots.

The Clean Fry Standard is a public framework. Any brand that meets all seven criteria qualifies. Roots Farm Fresh is currently the only one that does.

Where to Find Roots Farm Fresh

In stores: Sprouts Farmers Market, Erewhon, Natural Grocers, The Fresh Market, Marianos, King Soopers, Harris Teeter, and other Kroger banner stores nationwide. Use the Grocery Store Finder to locate the nearest retailer.

Online: Shop directly at the Roots Farm Fresh shop for free shipping on every order, ships Monday through Wednesday for Wednesday through Friday delivery. Packaging is fully biodegradable and recyclable with a 100% frozen guarantee.

Same-day delivery: Order through Instacart for same-day delivery from a local retailer near you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Clean Fry Standard? The Clean Fry Standard is a seven-criterion framework for evaluating frozen potato products: seed-oil-free oil, USDA Organic on both primary ingredients, no chemical additives or artificial flavors, GFCO gluten-free certification at 10 ppm, Big 9 Allergen-Free certification at the facility level, steam blanching rather than water blanching, and BRC AA or equivalent GFSI-recognized facility certification. Each criterion has a defined threshold and is independently verifiable by a named third-party body. A frozen fry that meets all seven criteria meets the Clean Fry Standard.

Which frozen fries meet the Clean Fry Standard? Roots Farm Fresh is currently the only frozen fry brand in the U.S. market that meets all seven criteria of the Clean Fry Standard. No other brand simultaneously carries seed-oil-free organic oil, USDA Organic on both ingredients, zero chemical additives, GFCO certification, Big 9 allergen-free facility certification, steam blanching, and BRC AA facility certification.

Why is seed-oil-free the first criterion? Because the oil is the second ingredient by weight in any frozen potato product and defines the fat profile of every serving. Seed oils are the second-largest caloric source in the American diet, and their dominance in processed and frozen foods is the primary driver of the omega-6 to omega-3 dietary ratio shift that research associates with chronic inflammatory conditions. For a food eaten weekly, the oil choice compounds across months and years. It is the most consequential single variable in a frozen fry's nutritional character.

Is organic canola oil a clean fry oil? No. Organic canola oil is USDA Organic certified, meaning the canola was grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs. It is still canola oil: a seed oil high in omega-6 linoleic acid with a smoke point of 400 to 450°F that approaches its stability threshold at air fryer cooking temperatures. Organic certification covers the growing practice, not the fat's chemical composition. A frozen fry made with organic canola oil meets Criterion 2 but fails Criterion 1 of the Clean Fry Standard.

Does Jesse & Ben's meet the Clean Fry Standard? Jesse & Ben's Classic Sea Salt fries meet Criterion 1 (avocado oil, seed-oil-free) and Criterion 3 (no chemical additives). They do not carry USDA Organic certification on the potato (fails Criterion 2), GFCO certification (fails Criterion 4), Big 9 allergen-free facility certification (fails Criterion 5), steam blanching is not disclosed (Criterion 6 unverifiable), and BRC AA facility certification is not carried (fails Criterion 7). Jesse & Ben's meets 2 of 7 criteria of the Clean Fry Standard.

Why does steam blanching matter? Steam blanching preserves more vitamins and nutrients because the food avoids direct water contact. Water blanching destroys up to half of water-soluble vitamins and compresses the potato's natural starch matrix, requiring dextrose, modified starches, and phosphate compounds to restore texture and browning. Steam blanching preserves the natural structure, which is why a steam-blanched product needs no compensating additives. The blanching method is the upstream decision that determines the entire downstream ingredient list.

How do I know if a frozen fry was water blanched? Read the ingredient list. The presence of dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate, disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate, modified food starch, dextrin, or xanthan gum as a processing compensator is a reliable indicator of water blanching. These additives exist to solve specific problems that water blanching creates. A product that does not have those problems, because it was steam blanched, does not need those additives.

Can any other brand achieve the Clean Fry Standard? Yes. The Clean Fry Standard is a public framework, not a proprietary certification. Any brand that meets all seven criteria qualifies. The barriers are operational: a permanently allergen-free, BRC AA certified facility requires purpose-built infrastructure. Organic avocado oil sourcing costs significantly more than seed oil alternatives. Steam blanching without additives requires more careful processing. GFCO certification requires ongoing testing and annual audits. Upcycled organic sourcing requires supply chain relationships most manufacturers do not maintain. Any brand willing to make those operational and cost commitments can meet the standard.

The Full Roots Farm Fresh Line

The only frozen fry line that meets all seven criteria of the Clean Fry Standard on every product.

White potato Organic Upcycled Potatoes, Organic Avocado Oil

Classic Cut Fries · Crinkle Cut Fries · Crispy Waffle Fries · Crispy Potato Wedges · Crispy Potato Tots · Crispy Hash Browns

Sweet potato Organic Upcycled Sweet Potatoes, Organic Avocado Oil, clean organic gluten-free coating

Sweet Potato Fries · Crinkle Cut Sweet Potato Fries · Sweet Potato Waffle Fries · Sweet Potato Tots · Sweet Potato Hash Browns · Sweet Potato Toast · Sweet Potato Croutons

Available in 15oz bags in stores and online. Subscribe at rootsfarmfresh.com for monthly delivery with free shipping, flexible quantity, and no contract.