Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday claimed that folks have been “raving” about Steak ‘n Shake’s french fries ever for the reason that quick meals chain stopped utilizing seed oils in its recipe.
“Steak ‘n Shake just switched out, and people are raving about these French fries,” Kennedy told Fox News host Sean Hannity, during an interview from one of the chain’s eating places in Florida.
“It’s a completely different experience,” the HHS secretary mentioned of the fries, which the corporate now makes with beef tallow rather than vegetable oil.
“The customers are raving about it,” he continued. “Steak and Shake has been great. We’re very grateful to them for RFKing the french fries.”
Kennedy, whereas chowing down on fries and a double cheeseburger, famous that he believes seed oils may very well be one of many foremost catalysts behind the “epidemic” of continual illness in America.
“Seed oil is one of the components of processed foods, and all the science indicates that ultra processed foods are the principal culprit in this extraordinary explosion – the epidemic we have of chronic disease,” he mentioned.
The HHS secretary has beforehand talked about that ending the “childhood chronic disease epidemic” might be one among his high priorities throughout President Trump’s second time period.
Regardless of Kennedy’s considerations with seed oils and processed meals, he mentioned he wouldn’t help an outright ban on the merchandise, preferring to as a substitute “incentivize” firms to transition away from seed oils, like Steak ‘n Shake did on March 1.
“I have a libertarian outlook,” RFK Jr. instructed Hannity. “People should be able to make their own choices. If you want to eat a donut, or seed oils, you should be able to.”
“You should be able to exercise informed choice,” he added. “You should know what that product is, what’s in your food and what the health impacts are. That’s all we’re going to do.”
“President Trump wants us to have radical transparency and to incentivize companies like [Steak ‘n Shake] to switch to traditional ingredients, like beef tallow,” Kennedy mentioned.
“We’re going to inform Americans about what’s been making them sick.”
RFK Jr. signaled that different restaurant chains, together with Popeyes, Outback Steakhouse, Sweetgreen and Buffalo Wild Wings have all lately switched away from seed oils or are within the course of of constructing the transition.
“We want to do everything that we can to incentivize these companies to be transparent, to switch over from ultra processed food, and to be part of this movement to make America healthier,” he mentioned.
