Fast-food giant Steak ‘n Shake is making a major recipe change, switching from vegetable oil to beef tallow for cooking fries nationwide. The move is in response to pressure from new US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been advocating for the use of beef tallow due to concerns over seed oils.
Kennedy, confirmed as HHS secretary on February 13, claims that Americans are “being unknowingly poisoned by heavily subsidized seed oils.” Beef tallow, a rendered form of beef fat, is made from the fatty tissue surrounding animal organs. The Mayo Clinic notes that beef tallow contains mostly saturated fat, which may be healthier than cooking with liquid fats like olive oil.
While some researchers believe cooking with beef tallow provides heart-healthy benefits due to its presence of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, others argue that the medical community remains split on the issue. The American Heart Association says there is no reason to avoid vegetable oils, while scientists have linked them to obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Steak ‘n Shake will begin serving “100% beef tallow” fries in all 400 US restaurants by March 2025. This switch comes as part of Kennedy’s efforts to promote healthier cooking options.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14435571/Fast-food-giant-makes-major-recipe-change-appease-RFK-JR-change-food-tastes.html