EXCLUSIVE — Michael Boes, Steak ’n Shake’s first “chief MAHA officer,” said he’s improving taste and going back to “what fast food was when our parents grew up” in his new role for the chain.
Steak ’n Shake tapped Boes for the role on Tuesday. He previously worked in the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a senior adviser.
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“Something happened over the past 30 years where all these added chemicals made its way into the food environment,” Boes told the Washington Examiner on Friday. “And no one really has a good explanation for that.”
“It’s definitely not customer choice. It’s definitely not customer demand,” he added.
He argued that fast food should be simple.
“I think everyone has the central theme of ingredients that you can pronounce, and it’s real food.”
Boes helped create the new food pyramid under the Trump administration, prioritizing protein and cutting out added sugars. He said the goal is to “return the menu back to foods that we’ve eaten for centuries, like beef, bread, cheese, and none of these added preservatives.”
Boes said there are even ways to make ice cream healthier, using just egg yolks, cream, and a little added sugar.
Steak ‘n Shake has changed its menu in the past to offer healthier options. In January 2025, the chain announced it would use 100% all-natural beef tallow to fry its fries.
Boes said Kennedy’s emphasis on a return to “gold standard science” has empowered Steak ‘n Shake and educated consumers on how fast food has changed.
“Food shouldn’t be political,” Boes told the Washington Examiner. “Healthy eating shouldn’t be this political issue. It’s unfortunate people make it about politics, but who can argue about getting to real ingredients that customers can pronounce? That should be apolitical.”
Boes highlighted that other industry partners were encouraged to make changes to better align with the Make America Healthy Again movement.
“The feedback we always got was, ‘Our customers aren’t demanding this. We’re already healthy.’ And I just didn’t believe it. We saw the polling numbers internally, and there’s obviously customer and public demand,” Boes said.
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He argued that by taking the initiative to make better food, Steak ‘n Shake is “way ahead of the curve.”
Boes said other industry partners are going to have to adapt because the market is going to demand it, and “it’s what the American people want.”
