Beef tallow – the rendered fat from cows – is suddenly everywhere.
Once used in American fast food chains to fry up crispy fries, it faded from the culinary spotlight in the 1990s when it was replaced by plant-based oils.
But now it’s back, hailed as a healthier alternative by some high-profile figures, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
It’s not just showing up in frying pans either. Social media is buzzing with claims that beef tallow can work miracles for your skin.
From lip balms to face creams, influencers insist it’s the secret to clear, youthful skin. But is this all too good to be true?
The hard truth about heart health
Nutrition scientists aren’t buying the hype. Experts like Christopher Gardner from Stanford University say there are no proven health benefits to eating beef tallow.
On the contrary, it’s packed with saturated fat – the same type found in butter, lard and coconut oil – which is known to raise LDL cholesterol, the so-called “bad” kind that clogs arteries and increases the risk of heart disease.
Guidelines in both the US and UK recommend limiting saturated fat to under 10% of daily calories.
Yet the majority of adults far exceed that limit. And replacing saturated fat with plant-based, unsaturated oils has been shown in studies to reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as 30%.
So while tallow might sound like a wholesome, natural choice, the science says otherwise.
Most of the negative health claims about seed oils, like causing inflammation or obesity, are based on misinterpreted data, not solid evidence.
Miracle cream or messy mistake?
What about using tallow on your skin? Technically, it’s safe – and it does help seal in moisture, much like petroleum jelly.
But dermatologists warn that it’s not an ideal skincare ingredient.
It tends to smell unpleasant, stains fabrics easily, and can clog pores – especially for people with oily or acne-prone skin.
Some skincare companies mix tallow with essential oils to improve the smell and texture, but this only increases the risk of allergic reactions.
And since chemicals can accumulate in fat, tallow may also contain pesticides if sourced from non-organic cattle.
Tallow does contain small amounts of vitamins A, D, E and K, but it lacks the antioxidants and proven skin-repairing ingredients found in alternatives like shea butter.
While it may help with severely dry or damaged skin, it’s far from the miracle product it’s often made out to be.
This article is based on information from The Guardian.