Taco Bell and Pizza Hut Will Dump Artificial Ingredients

Photo via Wikimedia

While Chipotle uses free-range meats and Just Salad uses ... salad, Taco Bell has been a little late in joining the healthy fast food movement. Just recently, however, the chain as well as its sister company, Pizza Hut, announced that they would begin to phase out all artificial ingredients from their menu. Soon, additives and ingredients including trehalose and soy lethicin will be removed to make way for “actual food.”

Healthy fast food chains have been steadily growing in the past few years, while some of the nation’s grossest/greatest favorites have fallen behind. It’s unclear what Taco Bell’s menu will look like (farm-to-table Nachos Bell Grande? Locally raised Cheesy Gordita Crunches? Free-range Chili Cheese Grillers?), but the change is nonetheless significant. Both Taco Bell and Pizza Hut are consistently ranked as two of the least healthy chains in the industry.

Still, Taco Bell plans to keep artificial ingredients in all of their cross-branded items and beverages, including Doritos Locos Tacos and Cap’n Crunch Doughnuts, items that crowd out a decent portion of the franchise’s menu. While what exactly Taco Bell plans to replace the fake ingredients with (home-grown Red No.5?) is up for debate, it’s lights out for high-fructose corn syrup, black pepper flavor, and unsustainable palm oil.

Beef burritos will never be the same again.

Photo via Flickr user The Impulsive Buy