Quick Answer

Does Good Health Actually Use Beef Tallow?

Good Health does not use beef tallow in any of their potato chip products. The brand positions itself as a healthier alternative to conventional chips by avoiding seed oils, but they haven't made the jump to traditional animal fats like tallow. This puts Good Health in an interesting middle ground. They've recognized that seed oils aren't ideal (which is more than most chip companies can say), but they haven't embraced the ancestral approach of using rendered animal fats for frying. The company's ingredient lists clearly show avocado oil and olive oil as their primary cooking fats, depending on the specific product line. This transparency is refreshing in an industry where many brands hide behind vague terms like "vegetable oil."

What Oil Does Good Health Use?

Good Health primarily uses two types of oils in their chip products: **Avocado Oil Kettle Chips**: Their main line features avocado oil, which has a high smoke point (around 520°F) and primarily consists of monounsaturated fats. This makes it relatively stable for high-heat cooking compared to seed oils. **Olive Oil Varieties**: Some Good Health products use olive oil, though this is less common due to olive oil's lower smoke point and stronger flavor profile. Both of these oils represent a significant upgrade from the seed oils (canola, soybean, sunflower) used by most mainstream chip brands. Avocado oil, in particular, has become popular in the health food space because it doesn't contain the problematic omega-6 linoleic acid found in seed oils. However, there are still some considerations. Avocado oil processing can vary significantly between brands, and some commercial avocado oils may be processed in ways that reduce their nutritional quality or even introduce adulterants.

Why Beef Tallow Is Better for Chips

Beef tallow would be superior to avocado oil for chip production for several key reasons: **Heat Stability**: Tallow has an extremely high smoke point (around 400°F) and is naturally saturated, making it incredibly stable under the high-heat conditions required for chip frying. This means less oxidation and fewer harmful compounds formed during cooking. **Fatty Acid Profile**: Beef tallow is roughly 50% saturated fat, 42% monounsaturated fat, and only 4% polyunsaturated fat. This low PUFA content means minimal omega-6 linoleic acid, which can contribute to inflammation when consumed in excess. **Traditional Use**: For most of human history, animal fats like tallow were the primary cooking fats. McDonald's famously used beef tallow for their fries until 1990, and many people still remember how much better they tasted. **Nutrient Density**: Grass-fed beef tallow contains fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which may have beneficial health effects. **Minimal Processing**: Quality tallow requires minimal processing compared to plant oils, which often undergo extensive refining, bleaching, and deodorizing. You can learn more about the health benefits of beef tallow in our comprehensive tallow guide.

Where to Find Tallow Chips

If you want chips made with beef tallow, here are your best options: **Boulder Canyon Beef Tallow Kettle Chips**: Available exclusively at Costco, these are currently the gold standard for tallow chips. They're made with grass-fed beef tallow and have received rave reviews from the ancestral health community. **Make Your Own**: Many people have started making their own tallow chips at home using a deep fryer or large pot with grass-fed tallow from their local butcher or online sources. For those who want to avoid seed oils but can't find tallow chips, Good Health remains one of the better mainstream options. Other solid alternatives include: **Jackson's Sweet Potato Chips**: Made with coconut oil, another stable saturated fat **Siete Chips**: Uses avocado oil, similar to Good Health **Lesser Evil**: Various products made with coconut oil or avocado oil

Good Health vs. Conventional Chips

When compared to mainstream chip brands, Good Health is significantly better. Most conventional chips are fried in a blend of seed oils like canola, soybean, and sunflower oil. These oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and prone to oxidation during the high-heat frying process. The contrast becomes clear when you compare ingredient lists. A typical bag of Lay's chips lists "vegetable oil (canola, soybean, and/or sunflower oil)" while Good Health clearly states "avocado oil" or "olive oil." This transparency and ingredient quality puts Good Health in the same category as other "better-for-you" chip brands, even if they haven't embraced traditional fats like tallow. For a deeper dive into how traditional fats compare to modern vegetable oils, check out our tallow vs vegetable oil comparison.

The Bottom Line

Good Health doesn't use beef tallow, but they do avoid seed oils in favor of avocado oil and olive oil. This makes them one of the better mainstream chip options available in most grocery stores. However, if you're specifically looking for chips made with traditional fats, Boulder Canyon's beef tallow chips at Costco are your best bet. These represent a return to the way chips were made for most of human history, before the industrial food system pushed animal fats aside in favor of cheaper plant oils. For more information about Good Health's complete ingredient profile, including their seed oil stance, read our full Good Health seed oil analysis. Whether you're shopping for chips or dining out, avoiding seed oils requires constant vigilance. The Seed Oil Scout app helps you find seed oil free restaurants AND scan grocery products with our barcode scanner to make informed choices about what you're eating. Download it at seedoilscout.com and take control of your food choices. 🫡