New national survey data suggests cooking oil is becoming a visible factor in restaurant selection, with younger diners showing the strongest preferences.

A new national survey suggests that cooking oil is no longer just a back-of-house decision for restaurants. It is increasingly becoming part of how consumers decide where to eat.

According to new data released by Coast Packing Company, 43% of Americans say a restaurant’s cooking oil influences their dining choice. The survey, based on responses from 1,005 U.S. consumers, points to a clear shift in how ingredient decisions are perceived by the public.

The strongest signal comes from younger diners. Among adults ages 18 to 34, 52% say knowing whether a restaurant uses Beef Tallow or seed oils affects where they choose to eat. Among consumers 55 and older, that number falls to 33%.

The preference gap also shows up when diners are asked to choose between two otherwise identical restaurants. In that scenario, 31% of adults ages 18 to 34 say they would choose the restaurant using Beef Tallow, compared with 19% of adults 55 and older.

The survey also found that 24.7% of diners prefer restaurants to use traditional animal fats such as butter or Beef Tallow, while 15.6% prefer seed or vegetable oils. That suggests ingredient choices once treated mainly as operational decisions may now be influencing brand perception, menu appeal, and customer loyalty.

For restaurant operators, the findings point to a broader change in consumer behavior. Diners, especially younger ones, appear increasingly interested in how food is prepared and what ingredients are used behind the scenes. That shift aligns with wider food industry trends that emphasize transparency, flavor, and traditional preparation methods.

Coast Packing says the data builds on years of tracking consumer attitudes toward animal fats. Earlier research showed growing openness to ingredients such as Lard and Beef Tallow, particularly among younger consumers who associate them with flavor and old-school cooking. This latest survey goes a step further by suggesting those views are now influencing actual dining behavior.

The findings also match broader market signals. Whole Foods Market’s 2026 food trend forecast identified Beef Tallow as an emerging ingredient gaining visibility, while analysts continue to project growth in the global tallow sector through 2030.

Restaurants are unlikely to overhaul kitchen practices overnight. Still, the survey suggests cooking oil is becoming more than a technical ingredient choice. For a growing share of consumers, it is part of the dining experience itself.

For more information, visit Coast Packing Company.

External Links

• Back to Flavor, Back to Tallow white paper
• Email to request the full survey results
• Coast Packing Company official website
• Coast Packing TasteMap
• Healthy Fats Coalition

Visit the Food and Drink section on STM Daily News for the latest food news, beverage trends, restaurant stories, seasonal recipes, culinary events, and community-driven lifestyle coverage.

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CropX Technologies has launched CropX Vision, a new AI-powered vineyard monitoring solution designed to help growers measure vine water stress using a single canopy image.

The new tool uses computer vision and agronomic modeling to estimate leaf water potential from a smartphone photo, giving growers and agronomists a faster and more scalable way to assess plant stress across entire vineyard blocks. The company says the goal is to support better irrigation decisions throughout the growing season.

CropX Vision is available globally on both iOS and Android. The platform is also integrated into the broader CropX application, allowing users to combine canopy-based stress insights with other agronomic data in one place.

According to CropX, the technology offers an in-season alternative to traditional pressure chamber measurements, which can be more time-consuming and limited in sampling range. Instead of relying on specialized equipment, growers can capture a single image in the field and receive plant-level water stress insights.

The product builds on technology originally developed by Tule Technologies, a California-based precision irrigation company acquired by CropX in 2023. Tule’s canopy sensing technology has already been used in California vineyards, and CropX is now expanding that capability to growers worldwide.

CropX says the global release reflects its continued focus on data-driven tools that help growers improve productivity while managing water more efficiently.

CropX Vision is now available for download via the app stores:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/cropx-vision/id6756921607?l=en-GB
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cropx.cropx_vision&pcampaignid=web_share

For more information, visit CropX Vision.

Visit the Food and Drink section on STM Daily News for the latest food news, beverage trends, restaurant stories, seasonal recipes, culinary events, and community-driven lifestyle coverage.

Last Updated on March 28, 2026 by Daily News Staff

Creamy Carrot Soup

• 2 cans (14 ounces each) carrots
• 2 cups broth of choice
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons ginger
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• honey
• BLT wraps, for serving

1. In blender, blend canned carrots, including juices, until smooth. Transfer to pot and add broth.
2. Mix in brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger and orange juice. Bring to simmer then add cream. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
3. Drizzle honey over each bowl. Serve with BLT wraps.