Taco Bell & Pizza Hut Become the Latest Chains to Remove Artificial Ingredients

27 May 2015 --- As part of the ongoing trend for transparency in the food industry, US fast food chains Taco Bell and Pizza Hut have announced that they are reformulating menu items to remove artificial colors and flavors.

By the end of 2015, Taco Bell plans to remove all artificial flavors and colors, replacing them with natural alternatives in their food. They will also remove other additives like added trans fat, and will replace unsustainable palm oil with sustainable, RSPO-certified palm. And by the end of 2017, Taco Bell will look to remove additional artificial preservatives and additives where possible.

These simplifications impact more than 95 percent of Taco Bell core food items across its menu, not including beverages and co-branded items. 

This commitment marks the latest step in Taco Bell’s food journey, which has included a 15 percent sodium reduction across the menu, the removal of all kid’s meals from the menu in US stores. Over the years, Taco Bell has also removed additives such as BHA/BHT, HVPs, MSG and Azodicarbonamide from its food.

The move by Taco Bell and Pizza Hut comes after many US fast food brands announced that menu changes before them. Already this year, McDonald’s announced that it would no longer be using chicken fed with antibiotics in its meals, while Subway has removed several artificial ingredients from its range.

Many fast food companies are seeking to remove artificial ingredients in favour of a more transparent menu due to falls in sales and profits. However some, like the relatively new and very successful Chipotle chain, are responding to consumer demand for more natural products, while sales continue to increase.