By Renee Hickman (Reuters) – In a video shared on social media last November, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was seen lowering a raw Thanksgiving turkey into a pot of hot cooking fat. Kennedy, confirmed by the Senate as the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Trump administration, referred to his slogan, “Make America Healthy Again,” as he cooked with beef tallow, claiming it to be a healthier alternative to seed oils like canola.
Beef tallow, traditionally used in cooking and various products, has gained support from some online wellness influencers for its perceived health benefits. Its market value was estimated to be $480 million in 2023, up from $446 million in 2018, with producers anticipating further growth due to Kennedy’s endorsement.
Even prior to his confirmation, Kennedy’s enthusiasm had caught the attention of businesses. Steak ‘n Shake, an Indianapolis-based fast-food chain, announced plans to use beef tallow in their shoestring fries. Other restaurants like Sweetgreen and Blue Collar Restaurant Group have also made changes to their menus, replacing seed oils with healthier alternatives.
Since Kennedy’s nomination to lead the health department, his assertions on various food items have faced scrutiny. While some argue in favor of saturated fats like beef tallow, others, like the Center for Science in the Public Interest, caution against overstating the risks associated with seed oils.
Kennedy’s potential influence as Health and Human Services Secretary extends to appointing advisors to the panel responsible for determining the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This document, revised every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the FDA, impacts aspects ranging from school lunches to food nutrition labels.
Sarah Sorscher, from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, suggests that Kennedy could drive a shift away from seed oils in cooking, influencing research funding and advocating for potential regulations or bans on certain products. His position could also encourage companies to align with his views voluntarily.
Eric Gustafson, CEO of Coast Packing Company, highlights the potential impact of Kennedy’s stance on the industry, drawing parallels to changes in the fast-food sector during the 1990s.
Companies such as McDonald’s spearheaded a broad transition from beef tallow to vegetable oils following extensive medical research that established a connection between animal fats and heart disease. Gustafson noted a recent reversal in this trend, observing a consistent uptick in sales over the last decade. Referring to Kennedy as RFK, he mentioned the utilization of tallow from a Coast Packing client in a Thanksgiving video. Gustafson expressed interest in facilitating further tallow deliveries to RFK and extending gratitude to him. (Reporting by Renee Hickman in Chicago, editing by Emily Schmall and Nia Williams)
