List of restaurants switching to beef tallow for fries: RFK Jr. says it's healthier, is it? [View all]

[Zorro]

Last week, new U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Fox News' Sean Hannity appeared at a Melbourne Steak 'n Shake to sample and praise its french fries. The Brevard County locations were the first in the country to switch to frying in beef tallow rather than seed oil, one of RFK Jr.'s controversial suggestions to "Make America Healthy Again."

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." A later post said, "Zealots cannot stop us."

Steak 'n Shake described the move as "RFK'ing" its fries after Kennedy claimed that seed oils are a major driver of the obesity epidemic and beef tallow is a healthier alternative. Since then, Kennedy has revealed that four more major chains including Popeye's and Outback Steakhouse already use beef tallow or other non-seed oils or plan to.

Seed oils have been linked to some health issues such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. However, some studies have found that solid fats such as beef tallow are worse for people's health.

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2025/03/17/robert-kennedy-beef-tallow-restaurants-steak-shake-popeyes-outback/82486844007/

I did not know beef tallow fries were a coming thing...