Tallow test results and specification.
Third-party lab results for the grass-fed beef tallow in TallowPal balms, lotion, deodorant and lip balm, with every method and the specification, plus the facts for the tallow in our soaps.
Updated
Light Labs (Ann Arbor, Michigan), an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory, tested lot 26190 of the grass-fed beef tallow in TallowPal balms, lotion, deodorant and lip balm. No E. coli, Salmonella or Staphylococcus aureus was detected, mold, yeast, coliforms and total plate count were each under 10 CFU/g, moisture was 0.17% and the peroxide value 7.4 meq/kg. Results apply only to the lot tested. Our specification caps insoluble impurities at 0.10%, within the 0.15% limit FDA sets for tallow used in cosmetics.
The tested lot, at a glance.
- Laboratory
- Light Labs
- Lot
- 26190
- Received by the lab
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Grass-fed beef tallow
Results released
- PathogensNot detectedE. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus
- Moisture0.17%Specification: 0.2% maximum
- Peroxide value7.4 meq/kgSpecification: 10.0 meq/kg maximum
- Mold, yeast, coliforms< 10 CFU/gEach, and the total plate count
Every test, with its method.
Microbiology
| Test | Result | Method |
|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Not detected | USP |
| Salmonella | Not detected | USP |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Not detected | USP |
| Total coliforms | < 10 CFU/g | USP |
| Total mold | < 10 CFU/g | USP |
| Total yeast | < 10 CFU/g | USP |
| Total plate count | < 10 CFU/g | USP |
Freshness and purity
| Test | Result | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Peroxide value | 7.4 meq/kg | UV/Vis |
| Acid value | 1.15 mg KOH/g | AOCS Ca 5a-40 |
| Moisture | 0.17% | AOAC 925.10, loss on drying |
| Dry matter | 99.83% | AOAC 925.10, loss on drying |
Physical
| Test | Result | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 44.7 °C | USP 741 |
| Appearance and color | White, opaque waxy solid | Organoleptic |
What the certificate covers
The lab's certificate notes that these particular tests sit outside its current ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation scope, and that some were performed at an outsourced location. Results apply only to the lot tested: a dated result for one representative lot, not a guarantee for every batch. "Not detected" means the lab found none above its reporting limit.
The full lab certificate is available to TallowPal brands on request. Write to hello@tallowpal.com.
What these numbers mean.
Low moisture and a low peroxide value indicate a clean, fresh rendered fat. These are ingredient test results for the tallow, not claims about any finished product or any skin condition.
- Not detected
- The lab found none of the organism above its reporting limit, the smallest amount its method can report.
- < 10 CFU/g
- Fewer than 10 colony-forming units per gram of tallow: the count of live mold, yeast or bacteria the lab could grow from a sample.
- Peroxide value, 7.4 meq/kg
- A measure of early oxidation in a fat. Lower means fresher. Our specification allows up to 10.0 meq/kg maximum.
- Acid value, 1.15 mg KOH/g
- A measure of the free fatty acids in a fat, which rise as fat breaks down. Lower is better.
- Moisture, 0.17%
- The water left in the fat after rendering, measured by loss on drying. The rest, 99.83%, is dry matter. Our specification allows up to 0.2% maximum.
- Melting point, 44.7 °C
- About 112 °F. Tallow is solid at room temperature, which is why balm can soften in summer heat and firm back up.
The tallow we use.
The specification for the beef tallow in TallowPal balms, lotion, deodorant and lip balm: edible-grade tallow, dry rendered from USDA-inspected beef fat. Our bar and liquid soaps use a separate tallow: see soap tallow.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Product | Edible rendered beef tallow |
| Ingredient | Beef fat |
| Source | USDA-inspected beef fat |
| Processing | Dry rendering |
| Shelf life | 2 years |
| Shipping and storage | 35 to 80 °F |
| Titer | 42 minimum |
| Free fatty acids | 0.80% maximum |
| Peroxide value | 10.0 meq/kg maximum |
| Moisture | 0.2% maximum |
| Melting point | 46.55 °C |
| Insoluble impurities | 0.10% maximum |
| Smoke point | 450 °F |
| Microbiology | Aerobic plate count, E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, mold and yeast, and coliform: negative |
Insoluble impurities are specified at 0.10% maximum, within the 0.15% limit FDA sets for tallow used in cosmetics (21 CFR 700.27).
The tallow in our soaps.
TallowPal bar soap and liquid soap are made with pasture-raised, grass-fed, grass-finished beef tallow from small US family farms from a second supplier. Here is what its documents show.
| Fatty acid | Share |
|---|---|
| Oleic (C18:1) | 37.4% |
| Palmitic (C16:0) | 24.5% |
| Stearic (C18:0) | 19.3% |
| Elaidic (C18:1 trans) | 7.2% |
| Myristic (C14:0) | 2.3% |
| Palmitoleic (C16:1) | 1.9% |
| Linoleic (C18:2) | 1.4% |
| Vaccenic (C18:1) | 1.2% |
| Heptadecanoic (C17:0) | 0.9% |
| Saturated fatty acids | 47.7% |
| Monounsaturated fatty acids | 48.6% |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids | 1.8% |
| Safety data | Value |
|---|---|
| Hazard classification | Not classified as hazardous (OSHA 29 CFR 1910, GHS) |
| Composition | Beef tallow 99-100% (CAS 61789-97-7) |
| NFPA rating | Health 0, flammability 1, reactivity 0 |
| Storage | Cool, sheltered, away from heat and direct sunlight |
| Transport | Not regulated (DOT, IATA, IMDG) |
Fatty acid profile from our soap tallow supplier's own certificate of analysis (GC/MS, March 6, 2026), compared with standard beef tallow ranges. It is the supplier's certificate, not a third-party test, and represents the product rather than a specific lot of our soap. Safety data from the supplier's safety data sheet (2015). The supplier documents are available to TallowPal brands on request.
Keep a copy on file.
Tallow test results, lot 26190
Every result and method on this page, on one sheet, issued October 26, 2026.
Tallow specification
The specification for the tallow we use, including the 21 CFR 700.27 line, issued October 26, 2026.
The full lab certificate
The full lab certificate is available to TallowPal brands on request. Ask at hello@tallowpal.com for your records or a marketplace review.
More on how we source and make it: our tallow and quality, labels and compliance and the facts for buyers.
Tallow testing questions
Who tested TallowPal's tallow?
Light Labs in Ann Arbor, Michigan, an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory. The lab received lot 26190 on July 17, 2026 and released the results on July 31, 2026.
What was tested: the tallow or the finished products?
The tallow. Lot 26190 is the grass-fed beef tallow that goes into TallowPal balms, lotion, deodorant and lip balm. The results describe that ingredient, not any finished product. Our soaps use a separate tallow, covered in the soap tallow section.
Do these results apply to every batch?
No. They are a dated result for one representative lot, not a guarantee for every batch. Every batch we make is recorded with a lot number, so each unit traces back to its batch.
Is the lab accredited for these tests?
The lab is ISO/IEC 17025-accredited, but its certificate notes that these particular tests sit outside its current accreditation scope, and that some were performed at an outsourced location. We say so because it matters when you weigh the results.
Can I get the full lab certificate?
Yes, if you are a TallowPal brand. Write to hello@tallowpal.com and we send it for your records or a marketplace review. Anyone can download our test results and specification PDFs.
What does 21 CFR 700.27 have to do with tallow?
The rule limits cattle materials in cosmetics, and it allows tallow with no more than 0.15% insoluble impurities. Insoluble impurities are specified at 0.10% maximum, within the 0.15% limit FDA sets for tallow used in cosmetics (21 CFR 700.27).
How long does the tallow keep?
The specification gives the tallow a shelf life of 2 years, shipped and stored at 35 to 80 °F. Every finished product carries a lot code and a best-by date.
Is the tallow in TallowPal soap tested too?
Our bar and liquid soaps use a separate grass-fed, grass-finished tallow. Its supplier's certificate of analysis gives a fatty acid profile (GC/MS, March 6, 2026); it is the supplier's certificate, not a third-party test. See soap tallow and the soap tallow fact sheet.
Can I share these results with my customers?
Yes. Link this page or share the PDFs. Present them as results for the tallow, and keep skin claims off your listing: the results say nothing about what a product does for skin. Our labels and compliance page covers the wording.
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