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Taco Bell loves vegetarians, launches dedicated menu to prove it

Photo: Provided.

September 11, 2019

As Taco Bell promised in January, tomorrow it will introduce what it said is the brand's first "dedicated" in-store vegetarian menu board nationwide. The chain said in a news release that the menu will feature only American Vegetarian Association-certified items, including two new menu offerings and two that it said have been favorites at the Mexican-American QSR for some time. 

The four basic vegetarian offerings include new creations like the black bean crunchwrap supreme and black bean quesarito, as well as the brand's existing seven-layer burrito and bean burrito. In fact, the company said that the bean burrito has been on its menu for 50 years now and is the brand's second bestseller, making Taco Bell a very early player in the meatless QSR space that is now so popular. 

The brand was the first AVA-certified QSR in 2015 and the current dedicated menu for those who refrain from animal meat is just a base for those who prefer plant-based eating to create their own culinary concoctions from the 13 AVA-certified vegetarian menu items and 36 AVA-certified vegetarian ingredients that the brand said can be customized more than 8 million ways. In fact, 26 of those 36 ingredients are also vegan, as well. 

On the brand's new menu board, these items are marked with a special vegetarian symbol to help customers spot them easily. The chain also said all of its meat-containing menu items can be made without meat, as well. 

The new menu board is going nationwide after what Taco Bell said was a "successful test" in Dallas, Texas, this April.