Research
Research by Tallow
Lab results, restaurant rating changes, and the occasional rant about what’s actually in your food.
Maddox Schmidlkofer
Scientists found a $10 food that removes 87% of nanoplastics from your body
A 2026 study published in Bioresource Technology found that a specific strain of bacteria in kimchi binds to nanoplastics in the gut and helps flush them out — retaining 57% binding efficiency even under intestinal conditions.
Maddox Schmidlkofer
Phthalates in fast food: what the Wendy's lab test found
A 2024 Consumer Reports study found nearly 34,000 nanograms of phthalates in a single serving of Wendy's Crispy Chicken Nuggets. Here is what phthalates are, how they get into your fast food, and what the science says about their health effects.
Maddox Schmidlkofer
The Pfizer enzyme in 90 percent of American cheese
Pfizer created the first genetically engineered food ingredient approved in the US — a cheese enzyme now in 90% of American cheese. It is labeled only as Enzymes. Here is what that word is hiding.
Maddox Schmidlkofer
Hidden Valley Ranch has a cosmetic emulsifier in it
Hidden Valley Original Ranch lists polysorbate 60 - a synthetic emulsifier used in face cream - right next to MSG, modified food starch, and Yellow 5. Here is what the best-selling dressing in America is really made of.
Maddox Schmidlkofer
Your farmed fish is vaccinated
Over 50% of the fish you eat comes from farms where vaccination, synthetic feed additives, and carbon monoxide color treatments are standard practice. Here is what is actually in your farmed fish.
Maddox Schmidlkofer
The 'no nitrates added' label on deli meat is a lie
Brands like Applegate and Niman Ranch swap sodium nitrite for celery powder and call it uncured. The science says the nitrites are identical - and the USDA sets no limits on how much celery powder they can use.
Maddox Schmidlkofer
What is actually in a Chick-fil-A sandwich
Chick-fil-A's famous chicken sandwich contains 55+ ingredients, including a silicone compound used in Silly Putty and a dough additive banned across Europe. Here is what the label does not tell you.
Maddox Schmidlkofer
Why we built Tallow
Seed oils slipped into nearly every restaurant and packaged food without anyone asking us. Here's the short version of why we're rating every menu and barcode.
