Burger chain says its 'fries will be RFK'd' as it joins 'Make America Healthy Again' effort

With a caller rotation connected cooking gallic fries, Steak 'n Shake is joining the run "Make America Healthy Again," made fashionable by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The institution precocious made a alteration and present is cooking shoestring fries successful beef tallow alternatively of rootlike oil. Some Florida locations were the archetypal to commencement cooking their gallic fries successful beef tallow astatine the extremity of January.

But connected March 1, the institution posted connected the societal media level X that each locations nationwide present service fries cooked successful "100% beef tallow... No preservatives, chemicals oregon additives."

But what is beef tallow? Is it a healthier option? Here's what you request to know.

What is beef tallow?

Beef tallow comes from cows and is besides known arsenic beef abdominous oregon drippings. It is made by simmering and clarifying the fatty insubstantial of the animal.

Tallow is whitish oregon cream-colored, coagulated astatine country somesthesia and is considered a saturated fat.

Much of the public’s cognition astir saturated abdominous is that it increases low-density lipoprotein cholesterin (“bad cholesterol”) and the likelihood of bosom disease. But immoderate caller studies situation existent guidelines and suggest determination is little of a nexus betwixt saturated abdominous and accrued hazard of cardiovascular illness than antecedently thought.

In contrast, effect oils are derived from works seeds and besides are known arsenic rootlike oils, which are considered an unsaturated fat. There are 2 large types of unsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, A heart-healthier enactment compared that increases "good" cholesterin levels, and polyunsaturated fat, which contains beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids.

RFK Jr. praises beef tallow

Steak 'n Shake, owned by Biglari Holdings, posted, "Fries volition beryllium RFK'd," and regularly tags and shares pictures of Kennedy and apical Trump state Elon Musk, arsenic good arsenic Tesla vehicles.

Kennedy and Fox News big Sean Hannity traveled to a Florida Steak 'n Shake this past play to illustration the fries.

Kennedy has spoken retired against effect oils and claims that beef tallow is simply a healthier alternative.

In an October 2024 station connected X, Kennedy wrote, "saturated carnal fats were thought to beryllium unhealthy, but we person since discovered that effect oils are 1 of the driving causes of the obesity epidemic."

Is beef tallow a healthier alternate to effect oils?

Emma Laing, a University of Georgia nutritional scientist, told health.com that choosing rootlike lipid implicit beef tallow depends connected the person's manner and preference.

Both oils person akin calorie counts. Beef lipid has much saturated fats, portion effect oils person higher polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids.

According to the American Heart Association, omega-6 fatty acids are portion of a steadfast fare and tin assistance the assemblage trim atrocious cholesterol, lowering the hazard for changeable and bosom disease.

Most wellness experts hold that higher intake of saturated fats volition pb to cholesterin buildup successful arteries, causing bosom disease.

Amber Olesen is FLORIDA TODAY's nutrient and eating reporter. Reach her astatine [email protected].

Contributing: Clare Mulroy

This nonfiction primitively appeared connected Florida Today: Steak 'n Shake making a alteration by cooking gallic fries successful beef tallow