Genesee · Answer · Updated 2026-09-29
What is bison tallow, and why is it in a protein bar?
Bison tallow is rendered bison fat, the fat source in a Genesee bar rather than a protein source. The bar's 21g protein comes from ingredients such as whey protein isolate, collagen, and peanut butter. Each 60g bar lists 16-17g total fat and 6g saturated fat, shown on the label as 30% of the Daily Value.
An ingredient list separates what supplies fat from what supplies protein. Bison tallow sits in the fat role: the label names it, and the finished Nutrition Facts panel reports the total and saturated fat the bar contains.
What is bison tallow?
Tallow is rendered fat from a ruminant animal. FDA's saturated-fat guidance lists beef fat (tallow and suet) among the animal fats in which saturated fat is found in higher proportions, and describes saturated fat as usually solid at room temperature.
On current Genesee labels the ingredient list reads “Grass Fed Bison Tallow.” Tallow is a fat, not bison meat, and the label does not present it as a protein source.
Why is a fat like tallow in a protein bar?
Fat is the most concentrated source of calories among the macronutrients. FDA's labeling rules use general factors of 9 calories per gram for total fat and 4 calories per gram for protein and total carbohydrate, so a gram of tallow carries more calories than a gram of the protein or carbohydrate in the same bar.
Ingredient position is a weight clue. Under 21 CFR 101.4, ingredients must be listed by common or usual name in descending order of predominance by weight, so where a fat appears in the list reflects how much of it the recipe uses relative to the ingredients around it. On current Genesee labels, grass fed bison tallow is listed after peanut butter, raw honey, whey protein isolate, and collagen.
How much fat does a Genesee bar list?
All three current 60g flavors list 6g saturated fat, which the label shows as 30% of the Daily Value, alongside 290 calories and 21g protein. Total fat is 17g in Coffee Latte and Snickerdoodle and 16g in White Chocolate Toffee.
FDA sets the Daily Value for saturated fat at less than 20g per day on a 2,000-calorie diet and describes 20% DV or more per serving as high, so the useful reading is the percentage against the rest of the day's food. Every flavor contains milk and peanuts, and White Chocolate Toffee also contains soy. Recipes and labels can change. Check the package you receive for the current ingredients, nutrition facts, allergens, and caffeine disclosure.
What does the label not say about the tallow?
The label gives the ingredient name and the finished fat values. It does not publish a fatty-acid profile, a rendering method, or ranch-level sourcing, and this page does not fill those gaps with guesses.
Common questions
Is bison tallow a protein?
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No. Tallow is a fat. The bar's protein comes from protein-containing ingredients such as whey protein isolate, collagen, and peanut butter, and the finished panel lists 21g protein per 60g bar.
Why do protein bars use fat at all?
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Fat supplies more calories per gram than protein or carbohydrate under FDA's general calorie factors — 9 calories per gram against 4 — so it is an energy-dense part of a recipe. It is also an ingredient the label must list in weight order.
How much saturated fat is in a Genesee bar?
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All three current flavors list 6g saturated fat per 60g bar, which the label shows as 30% of the Daily Value. FDA sets that Daily Value at less than 20g per day on a 2,000-calorie diet.
Does Genesee publish where the bison tallow comes from?
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The package wording is grass fed bison tallow. Ranch-level sourcing, finishing protocols, and a fatty-acid assay for the tallow are not published on this page.
Deep dives: Tallow protein bars · Seed-oil-free protein bars
Sources
- Interactive Nutrition Facts Label: Saturated Fat. US Food and Drug Administration. Checked 2026-09-28.
- 21 CFR 101.9: Nutrition labeling of food. eCFR (US Code of Federal Regulations). Checked 2026-09-28.
- 21 CFR 101.4: Food; designation of ingredients. eCFR (US Code of Federal Regulations). Checked 2026-09-28.