Burger chain says its ‘fries will be RFK’d’ as it joins ‘Make America Healthy Again’ effort
- Steak ‘n Shake has switched to cooking its french fries in beef tallow instead of vegetable oil.
- This decision aligns with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, which promotes beef tallow as a healthier alternative to seed oils.
- While both beef tallow and seed oils have similar calorie counts, they differ in their fat profiles, with beef tallow being higher in saturated fat and seed oils containing more polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids.
With a new spin on cooking french fries, Steak ‘n Shake is joining the campaign “Make America Healthy Again,” made popular by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The company recently made a change and now is cooking shoestring fries in beef tallow instead of vegetable oil. In fact, Melbourne locations in Brevard were the first to start cooking their french fries in beef tallow at the end of January.
On March 1, the company posted on the social media platform X that all locations nationwide now serve fries cooked in “100% beef tallow… No preservatives, chemicals or additives.”
What is beef tallow?
Beef tallow comes from cows and is also known as beef fat or drippings. It is made by simmering and clarifying the fatty tissue of the animal.
Tallow is whitish or cream-colored, solid at room temperature and is considered a saturated fat.
In contrast, seed oils are derived from plant seeds and also are known as vegetable oils, which are considered an unsaturated fat.
RFK Jr. praises beef tallow
Steak ‘n Shake, owned by Biglari Holdings, posted, “Fries will be RFK’d,” and regularly tags and shares pictures of Kennedy and President Trump ally Elon Musk, as well as Tesla vehicles.
Kennedy and Fox News host Sean Hannity traveled to a Florida Steak ‘n Shake this past weekend to sample the fries.
Kennedy has spoken out against seed oils and claims that beef tallow is a healthier alternative.
In an October 2024 post on X, Kennedy wrote, “saturated animal fats were thought to be unhealthy, but we have since discovered that seed oils are one of the driving causes of the obesity epidemic.”
Is beef tallow a healthier alternative to seed oils?
Emma Laing, a University of Georgia nutritional scientist, told health.com that choosing vegetable oil over beef tallow depends on the person’s lifestyle and preference.
Both oils have similar calorie counts. Beef oil has more saturated fats, while seed oils have higher polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids.
According to the American Heart Association, omega-6 fatty acids are part of a healthy diet and can help the body reduce bad cholesterol, lowering the risk for stroke and heart disease.
Most health experts agree that higher intake of saturated fats will lead to cholesterol buildup in arteries, causing heart disease.
Amber Olesen is FLORIDA TODAY’s food and dining reporter. Reach her at aolesen@floridatoday.com.
