Overview

• Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Steak ‘n Shake to highlight the chain's recent switch to cooking fries in beef tallow instead of vegetable oil.
• Kennedy criticized seed oils and ultra-processed foods, linking them to the rise in chronic diseases in the U.S., which he says now affect 60% of Americans compared to 3% during the 1960s.
• The Trump administration aims to promote 'radical transparency' in food labeling and incentivize companies to use healthier, traditional ingredients.
• Kennedy emphasized consumer choice, advocating for informed decisions about food consumption rather than outright bans on seed oils or processed foods.
• Other restaurant chains, including Sweetgreen and Buffalo Wild Wings, have begun transitioning away from seed oils, aligning with the movement to improve public health.