Quick Answer

No, Kettle Brand does not use beef tallow in their potato chips. Despite marketing themselves as "natural" and "premium," Kettle Brand chips are cooked in seed oils, primarily safflower and sunflower oil, with some flavors containing canola oil. If you're looking for chips made with beef tallow, Boulder Canyon's beef tallow chips (available exclusively at Costco) are currently your best option.

Does Kettle Brand Actually Use Beef Tallow?

Unfortunately, Kettle Brand does not use beef tallow in any of their potato chip varieties. This might come as a surprise given their premium positioning and "natural" marketing claims, but like most mainstream chip brands, they rely entirely on processed seed oils for frying.

Kettle Brand is owned by Campbell Soup Company, which acquired the brand in 2018. While they've maintained the brand's artisanal image and small-batch cooking methods, they haven't made the switch to traditional animal fats that would truly set them apart in the premium snack market.

The brand's commitment to "natural" ingredients stops short of using the most natural cooking fat humans have used for centuries. Instead, they've opted for industrially processed vegetable oils that would have been completely foreign to our ancestors.

What Oil Does Kettle Brand Use?

Kettle Brand primarily uses safflower oil and sunflower oil for cooking their potato chips. Some flavors also contain canola oil, depending on the specific variety and seasoning blend used.

Here's what you'll typically find in Kettle Brand chips:

• Safflower oil: High in omega-6 linoleic acid (78% of fatty acid content)
• Sunflower oil: Also high in omega-6 fatty acids (68% linoleic acid)
• Canola oil: Contains 21% linoleic acid plus concerning processing chemicals

These oils are all classified as seed oils and contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that can contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. The high heat used in chip production also increases the likelihood of lipid peroxidation, creating potentially harmful compounds.

Despite Kettle Brand's marketing emphasis on "natural cooking," these industrially extracted and refined oils are far from what our ancestors would recognize as food. The irony is that beef tallow, which Kettle Brand doesn't use, would actually be more "natural" than any of their chosen cooking oils.

Why Beef Tallow Is Better for Chips

Beef tallow would be a superior choice for potato chip production for several key reasons:

Superior Heat Stability

Beef tallow has a high smoke point (around 400°F) and contains primarily saturated and monounsaturated fats, making it incredibly stable at the high temperatures required for chip frying. Unlike seed oils, tallow doesn't break down into harmful compounds when heated repeatedly.

Healthier Fatty Acid Profile

While seed oils are loaded with omega-6 fatty acids that can promote inflammation, beef tallow contains a balanced mix of saturated fats (about 50%) and monounsaturated fats (about 42%). This composition is much closer to what human cell membranes actually need.

Traditional and Time-Tested

Humans have been consuming animal fats for thousands of years. McDonald's famously used beef tallow for their french fries until 1990, and many people still remember how much better they tasted. The switch from animal fats to vegetable oils coincided with rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Better Flavor

Beef tallow imparts a rich, savory flavor that enhances the natural taste of potatoes. Many chefs and food enthusiasts argue that animal fats simply create better-tasting fried foods compared to the neutral (and often slightly off-putting) taste of processed seed oils.

Where to Find Tallow Chips

If you're looking for potato chips made with beef tallow, you have a few options:

Boulder Canyon Beef Tallow Chips

Boulder Canyon makes authentic beef tallow potato chips that are available exclusively at Costco locations. These chips are cooked in 100% beef tallow and represent the gold standard for traditional chip making. They're typically found in the snack aisle and come in sea salt and other classic flavors.

Other Seed Oil-Free Alternatives

While not made with beef tallow, these brands avoid seed oils entirely:

• Jackson's Honest: Uses coconut oil for cooking, creating a lighter taste profile
• Siete: Makes grain-free chips cooked in avocado oil
• Local artisanal brands: Some small-batch chip makers use lard or tallow

The growing awareness of seed oil health concerns is driving more brands to explore traditional cooking fats. As consumer demand increases, we're likely to see more options hit the market.

The Bottom Line

Kettle Brand does not use beef tallow in their potato chips, despite their premium positioning and natural marketing claims. Instead, they rely on safflower oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil, all of which are high in inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids.

For consumers seeking chips made with traditional animal fats, Boulder Canyon's beef tallow chips at Costco remain the best widely available option. These chips demonstrate that it's entirely possible to make delicious, shelf-stable potato chips using the same cooking fat our ancestors relied on for centuries.

The disconnect between Kettle Brand's "natural" marketing and their continued use of industrially processed seed oils highlights the importance of reading ingredient labels rather than trusting marketing claims. True natural eating means choosing foods made with ingredients and methods that have nourished humans for generations.

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