Steak 'n Shake Appoints First Chief MAHA Officer, Accelerates Shift to Beef Tallow and Grass-Fed Beef

Steak 'n Shake has named Michael Boes, a former senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as its inaugural chief Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) officer. The April 2026 appointment formalizes the chain's ongoing pivot toward what it describes as cleaner ingredients, including 100% beef tallow for frying and a transition to grass-fed, grass-finished beef.

Boes previously contributed to the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and focused on nutrition policy reform during his HHS tenure. In his new role, he oversees nutritional integrity, ingredient transparency, and menu health initiatives at the Biglari Holdings-owned chain. Company statements emphasize that “good-tasting food should also be good for you,” aligning with MAHA priorities of reducing seed oils, additives, and ultra-processed elements in favor of traditional fats and whole foods.

The changes predate Boes’ hiring but have accelerated under the MAHA banner. Steak 'n Shake switched to beef tallow frying in 2025, with its website confirming that fries, tots, onion rings, and chicken tenders are now cooked in 100% beef tallow free of additives. The chain has also eliminated vegetable oils from par-frying processes for frozen products in collaboration with suppliers. Additional updates include cane-sugar Coca-Cola, A2 milk, 100% Wisconsin butter, and plans to remove microwaves from locations. Grass-fed beef rollout was targeted for completion by mid-2026.

Industry observers note the move taps into growing consumer and policy interest in seed oil alternatives and regenerative sourcing, potentially influencing supply chains for other quick-service restaurants. LinkedIn posts from Boes and company announcements highlight early sales gains following ingredient shifts. Coverage from outlets including Fox News, Newsweek, and Nation’s Restaurant News frames the hiring as a direct response to MAHA momentum in the Trump administration era.

While the full transition remains a “journey” per the company’s site, the public commitment and executive-level focus signal a sustained strategy rather than temporary marketing. This positions Steak 'n Shake as an early corporate adopter testing whether demand for “real food” can reshape fast-food economics at scale.