MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — If you’re not familiar with it, you probably should be. An allergic reaction to alpha-gal can lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis — even from something as simple as eating your favorite fries, if they’re cooked in beef tallow, as some restaurants openly advertise. The condition behind this reaction is called Alpha-gal Syndrome, or AGS for short.

For years, McDonald’s fries owed their signature taste to beef tallow, the fat they were cooked in until the early 1990s, when the company shifted to vegetable oil after public pressure over saturated fat. That original recipe still has a cult following — many people insist nothing since has matched the flavor.

But beef tallow hasn’t disappeared. A handful of chains, including Buffalo Wild Wings and select Steak ’n Shake locations, still rely on it for their fryers, and it’s gaining new popularity with home cooks who want that old-school crisp and richness. One perk: the rendered fat can be strained, stored, and used again, making it a favorite in certain culinary circles.

AGS is a growing public-health concern in Middle Tennessee, especially in Rutherford County and nearby areas, because of the high population of lone star ticks. A single bite from this tick can trigger an allergy to all mammalian meats such as beef, pork, venison, lamb, goat, and sometimes even dairy or products containing gelatin. Unlike typical food allergies, alpha-gal reactions are delayed 2 to 6 hours after eating, and can range from hives and stomach pain to life-threatening anaphylaxis. To make matters worse, this is usually considered to be a life-long allergy. 

Angela Roddenberry spoke with one Murfreesboro patient who was diagnosed 26 years ago. However, in 1998 the condition was largely unfamiliar to the medical community and had not yet been officially identified or named as alpha-gal syndrome...

The CDC now tracks alpha-gal syndrome cases nationwide, and Tennessee is considered a hotspot. As of July 1 of this year, the state implemented new reporting requirements that mandate physicians to report confirmed cases, which is expected to improve statewide data accuracy. Vanderbilt Health and other Middle Tennessee providers are already treating patients and conducting ongoing research.

WGNS has already spoken with several local residents who were diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome in previous years. Some reported receiving the diagnosis through their primary care provider at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, while others were confirmed by independent physicians across the community. Patients were identified in multiple areas of Rutherford County, including Barfield, Lascassas, Smyrna, and even one resident in Eagleville.

Doctors urge residents to prevent tick bites, know the symptoms, and seek testing if they notice delayed reactions after eating red meat. Public-health officials say prevention—repellent, tick checks, and safe outdoor habits—is the best defense.

MORE DETAILS: Medical providers are seeing growing awareness of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a tick-associated allergy that can trigger delayed, sometimes severe reactions after eating mammalian meats such as beef, pork, venison (deer), lamb/goat, and—in some patients—dairy or products that contain mammal-derived ingredients. The condition is strongly linked to bites from the lone star tick, which is abundant in Tennessee and the broader Southeast. (CDC)

What it is: Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic reaction to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (“alpha-gal”), a sugar found in most mammals but not in humans. A tick bite can introduce alpha-gal and prime the immune system; later exposures—often through red meat or mammal-derived products—can trigger an allergic response, according to the CDC.

Hallmark symptoms — and why the reaction is delayed: Unlike many food allergies, AGS often hits hours later. CDC guidance notes symptoms typically begin 2–6 hours after eating meat or dairy and can range from hives and severe stomach pain to anaphylaxis (a life-threatening reaction). Anyone experiencing severe symptoms should seek emergency care.

Why Middle Tennessee (including Rutherford County) should pay attention:

• Where cases cluster: A CDC analysis of 2017–2022 testing shows suspected AGS cases cluster across the South, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, with hot spots in regions where the lone star tick is established—including Tennessee. A county-level heat map places much of Tennessee in moderate-to-high categories.

• Our ticks: The Tennessee Department of Health calls tick-borne diseases a “major concern” and UT Institute of Agriculture experts describe abundant lone star tick populations statewide, highlighting risk in central Tennessee, according to Tennessee State Government health officials.

• State tracking: As of July 1, 2025, Tennessee law requires providers to report AGS, with the Tennessee Department of Health integrating alpha-gal into its reportable diseases list during its next revision cycle (target Jan. 1, 2026). That change should yield clearer Tennessee data going forward.

How it shows up in everyday life: Most clinicians advise those with AGS to avoid meat from mammals (beef, pork, lamb, venison, rabbit). Some individuals also react to dairy and certain medications or non-food products that contain mammal-derived ingredients (for example, gelatin in some capsule coatings); patients should review specifics with their clinician.

Tennessee care and research: Middle Tennessee patients can find evaluation and care through Vanderbilt Health and other allergy specialists in the region. Vanderbilt researchers are also studying tick bites and AGS, supported by federal grants aimed at understanding immune responses and prevention, according to information available on VanderbiltHealth.com.

Prevention: reduce tick exposure - Public-health guidance emphasizes preventing tick bites—use EPA-registered repellents, wear long sleeves/pants in brushy areas, do prompt tick checks, and remove ticks correctly. These steps matter in our area because of widespread exposure to lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum). 

Where these details came from

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS): official overviews of what AGS is; which meats/products can trigger reactions; the role of the lone star tick; and the 2–6 hour symptom window. Also includes national burden estimates (more than 110,000 suspected cases 2010–2022; up to ~450,000 people may have been affected). (CDC)

• CDC Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), July 28, 2023: county-level map and analysis showing suspected AGS clustering across the South (including Tennessee) and its association with the lone star tick’s range.

• Tennessee Department of Health: Reportable diseases update noting mandatory AGS reporting effective July 1, 2025, with integration to the reportable list expected Jan. 1, 2026; TDH overview of tick-borne diseases as a major statewide concern. (Tennessee State Government)

• University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA): Tennessee-specific tick guidance describing abundant lone star tick populations and practical prevention steps for schools and communities. (UTIAnews.tennessee.edu)

• Vanderbilt University Medical Center / Vanderbilt Health: Middle Tennessee clinical resources for diagnosis and management; ongoing AGS-related research. (VanderbiltHealth.com)

What residents in Rutherford and surrounding counties can do next

1. Talk to your doctor if you’ve had delayed (2–6 hr) hives, GI distress, or breathing issues after eating beef, pork, venison, lamb/goat, or dairy. Ask about alpha-gal IgE testing and local referral options.

2. Prevent bites when outdoors in Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson, Cannon, Bedford, Coffee, and adjacent counties—use repellent, do tick checks, and remove ticks promptly. (CDC)

3. If diagnosed, review a personalized avoidance plan with your allergist, including how to read labels for mammal-derived ingredients and whether to carry epinephrine for severe reactions, per clinician guidance.

Editor’s note: This article summarizes medical guidance and public-health reports; it is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. For individual care, consult a licensed clinician.