With a brand new spin on cooking french fries, Steak ‘n Shake is becoming a member of the marketing campaign “Make America Healthy Again,” made fashionable by Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The corporate just lately made a change and now could be cooking shoestring fries in beef tallow as an alternative of vegetable oil. Some Florida places have been the primary to begin cooking their french fries in beef tallow on the finish of January.
However on March 1, the corporate posted on the social media platform X that each one places nationwide now serve fries cooked in “100% beef tallow… No preservatives, chemical substances or components.”
However what’s beef tallow? Is it a more healthy possibility? This is what you should know.
What’s beef tallow?
Beef tallow comes from cows and is often known as beef fats or drippings. It’s made by simmering and clarifying the fatty tissue of the animal.
Tallow is whitish or cream-colored, stable at room temperature and is taken into account a saturated fats.
A lot of the general public’s data about saturated fats is that it will increase low-density lipoprotein ldl cholesterol (“unhealthy ldl cholesterol”) and the chance of coronary heart illness. However some current research challenge current guidelines and counsel there may be less of a link between saturated fat and increased risk of heart problems than beforehand thought.
In distinction, seed oils are derived from plant seeds and in addition are often called vegetable oils, that are thought-about an unsaturated fats. There are two main kinds of unsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats, A heart-healthier possibility in contrast that increases “good” cholesterol levels, and polyunsaturated fats, which comprises helpful omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids.
RFK Jr. praises beef tallow
Steak ‘n Shake, owned by Biglari Holdings, posted, “Fries shall be RFK’d,” and frequently tags and shares footage of Kennedy and high Trump ally Elon Musk, in addition to Tesla automobiles.
Kennedy and Fox Information host Sean Hannity traveled to a Florida Steak ‘n Shake this previous weekend to pattern the fries.
Kennedy has spoken out in opposition to seed oils and claims that beef tallow is a more healthy various.
In an October 2024 put up on X, Kennedy wrote, “saturated animal fat have been regarded as unhealthy, however we’ve since found that seed oils are one of many driving causes of the weight problems epidemic.”
Is beef tallow a more healthy various to seed oils?
Emma Laing, a College of Georgia dietary scientist, informed health.com that selecting vegetable oil over beef tallow will depend on the individual’s way of life and choice.
Each oils have comparable calorie counts. Beef oil has extra saturated fat, whereas seed oils have larger polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids.
In keeping with the American Heart Association, omega-6 fatty acids are a part of a nutritious diet and might help the physique cut back unhealthy ldl cholesterol, reducing the danger for stroke and coronary heart illness.
Most well being consultants agree that larger consumption of saturated fat will result in ldl cholesterol buildup in arteries, inflicting coronary heart illness.
Amber Olesen is FLORIDA TODAY’s meals and eating reporter. Attain her at aolesen@floridatoday.com.
Contributing: Clare Mulroy
This text initially appeared on Florida In the present day: Steak ‘n Shake making a change by cooking french fries in beef tallow
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