Steak n Shake Brings Back Beef Tallow Fries

Steak n Shake revealed today it has RFKd its fries by switching to beef tallow a nod to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push for traditional cooking fats. The fast food chain joins a wave of eateries ditching seed oils amid health concerns from Kennedy and wellness circles. Customers can taste the change now with the company touting richer flavor and a return to roots.

Kennedy’s influence grew after joining Trump’s team with his anti-seed oil crusade gaining traction online and in policy talks. Steak n Shake’s move follows his call to revive beef tallow used widely until the 1990s when chains like McDonald’s swapped it for vegetable oils. The switch aims to woo diners wary of processed fats linked to inflammation by some studies.

The chain tested tallow fries in Indiana stores last month after Kennedy dined there and praised the idea publicly. Executives say sales jumped 15 percent prompting a nationwide rollout this week. They’ve branded it a heritage choice echoing how fries were made decades ago before health lobbies pushed cheaper alternatives.

Foodies report the tallow version offers a crispier bite and beefy undertone missing from canola-fried spuds. Some hail it as a win for flavor and nutrition with tallow packing more stable fats than seed oils. Skeptics question if the hype outweighs real health gains noting fries remain a caloric indulgence either way.

Kennedy’s camp cheered the news as proof his message resonates beyond politics into everyday life. He’s urged fast food giants to ditch what he calls toxic oils a stance that’s split diet experts. Steak n Shake’s gamble tests if nostalgia and health trends can boost a brand lagging behind rivals like In-N-Out.

The shift isn’t cheap with tallow costing 30 percent more than vegetable oil per internal estimates. Supply chains took months to secure enough beef fat from U.S. renderers straining under demand. Executives bet loyalists will pay a slight upcharge for fries now priced at 3.49 for a large up from 3.19.

Rivals watch closely as Wendy’s and Burger King face pressure to follow suit or stick with status quo oils. Customer reactions vary with some thrilled by the old-school taste and others unmoved by the fuss. Steak n Shake plans ads featuring Kennedy to cement the link banking on his star power.

This fry revamp could signal a broader food industry pivot if sales hold strong into summer. For now it’s a bold play to stand out in a crowded market while riding a wellness wave. Whether it sticks depends on if Americans crave tradition enough to fork over extra cash.