News

Taco Bell lays out 7 2019 'commitments'

January 10, 2019

Taco Bell said 2019 will be the year it not only introduces its first vegetarian menu and increased scholarship funding, but also when it will boost the recyclability of its packaging and simplify its menu, a news release said.

"We decided to scratch the idea of New Year's resolutions and instead make New Year's commitments," Taco Bell President of North America Julie Masino, said in the release. 

The commitments, include:

• Simplify ingredients: The brand has now removed artificial colors and flavors from its core menu. By this spring, the brand will remove the synthetic preservative tBHQ from its menu, while cutting sodium 25 percent by 2025 and improving overall ingredient quality. 
• Ensure sustainably produced beef: The chain is working with the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef's experts to ensure this goal. 
• Grow recycling: The brand recently began using recyclable cold cups at all 7,000 U.S. restaurants and commits to make all of its  cups recyclable by 2021.
• Build on its vegetarian- and flexitarian-friendliness: Later this year, Taco Bell will test its first dedicated vegetarian menu and new featured vegetarian items. The brand is the sole QSR certified by the American Vegetarian Association and currently offers more than 8 million vegetarian combinations.
• Continue value offerings: This is a renewed commitment to items priced in the $1 and $5 value categories, including 20 current $1 menu items and $5 boxed offerings.
• Create more U.S. jobs: The brand will continue to work toward creating 100,000 new U.S. jobs by 2022. 
• Create $4 million in scholarships this year: This year's million-dollar boost in scholarships is part of the brand's pledge to create $21 million in scholarships by 2021.