Updates about MAHA and ‘RFK’d’ French Fries

Can having a burger, shake, and fries ever truly be healthy? Probably not. But in RFK’s America, they might not be as bad as before. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his outspoken advocacy against processed foods, seed oils, and color additives, was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services less than three weeks ago. Since then, food companies have already begun responding to the growing influence of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement. 

Over the weekend, fast food chain Steak ‘n Shake started cooking its fries and onion rings in beef tallow instead of seed oil. “We RFK’d our fries,” the restaurant’s Chief Operations Officer, Daniel Edwards, announced. Kennedy has argued that replacing seed oils in processed and fast foods may help lower obesity rates.

“Thank you, Secretary Kennedy, for your leadership,” the company tweeted. “Nothing will stop our crusade to lead in the MAHA movement!” In obvious concessions to Trump supporters, Steak ‘n Shake’s official X account posted an image of Trump’s iconin red hat adorned with the words “Make Frying Oil Tallow Again” and joked about sending a Tesla limo to bring distant fans to try the new recipe.

Speaking of Tesla, Elon Musk has apparently tried the tallow-free fries, claiming they “taste way better!”

Steak ‘n Shake isn’t the only company reinventing how we think about fried foods and seed oils. Jesse & Ben’s, a frozen fries brand that uses beef tallow and avocado oil, hinted at its support for RFK. “We try not to be ‘partisan’ or take sides,” the company’s co-founder, Jesse Konig, said. “But we are definitely big believers in the benefits that come from removing seed oils from your diet.”

Good Ranchers, a popular meat subscription company, has also ditched seed oils, introducing  “the industry’s first-ever seed-oil-free chicken nuggets.”

“The potential health risk of seed oils cannot be ignored,” the company’s website states. “The modern diet’s heavy reliance on these oils, coupled with their processing and high omega-6 content, poses significant health concerns. By opting for healthier alternatives and focusing on whole, unprocessed foods, you can take meaningful steps toward better health.”

Controversial seed oils aren’t the only ingredient on RFK’s naughty list, though. The new HHS director has also set his sights on food dyes, which appear in many sodas, candies, and cereals.

“The first thing I’d do,” Kennedy said while campaigning for Trump, “[is] tell the cereal companies: Take all the dyes out of their food.”

General Mills, under increasing pressure to eliminate Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, and Blue 1 from its popular breakfast products, has indicated it will “work in close partnership with policymakers on this issue” and “engage with federal regulators as they consider any additional changes they may propose.” The Trix and Lucky Charms previously removed these artificial dyes, only to reintroduce them after facing backlash over the lack of color in their cereals.

“General Mills has the opportunity to avoid a PR nightmare,” food activist Vani Hari urged. “I hope they step up as the leader in the industry and remove artificial food dyes from all of their cereals like they do in other countries.”

When the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on Red 3 weeks before Trump’s second term began, many of the most notorious “junk food” brands began scrambling to abolish the disapproved ingredient, which is made from petroleum and has been linked to cancer. Impacted foods included Pop-Tarts, Nesquik strawberry milk, and select doughnuts. Brands like Smucker and Hostess, which manufacture Twinkies, Donettes, Uncrustables, jams, and ice cream toppings, have revealed they will “monitor and assess” Kennedy’s “agenda and policies.” Nestle, the world’s largest packaged food company, minimized potential differences with Kennedy, claiming they worked with Trump’s transition team and supported “better nutritional product profiles.”

These trends, if sustained, could represent a seismic shift in how Americans eat over the next several decades. Moreover, they signal a broader cultural conservative realignment, with major companies, including Disney, Meta, and Amazon, endeavoring to appease Trump.

However, as we have repeatedly argued, the Make America Healthy Again movement can only truly begin when you take responsibility for your health.

As I previously wrote, No one — not even Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — can better protect you from a poisonous diet than yourself.

Tallow-free french fries are great and all. But how many bad foods still lurk in your pantry, tempting you to indulge in a smorgasbord of sugars, toxins, and dyes? As the first day of spring approaches, maybe it’s time for all of us to consider a spring cleaning — starting with our pantries.

Until then — until we are willing to take a long, hard look at the pollution we’re ingesting — we shouldn’t expect the federal government, Steak ‘n Shake, or anyone else to do it for us.