Taco Bell Is Testing Out New Dedicated Vegetarian Menu In One Market

taco bell new vegetarian menu and drinks

Nationwide fast-food restaurant chains have made a concerted effort to offer more vegetarian and vegan options as of late. Chick-fil-A recently introduced a keto diet and Chipotle rolled out “Lifestyle Bowls” that are focused on paleo, Whole30 and keto diets. Not to be left out, Taco Bell is testing out a new vegetarian menu ine one market.

Taco Bell is testing out three new vegetarian menu items at their restaurants in the Dallas, Texas market. The three new items are the Vegetarian Crunchwrap Supreme ($3.70), the Vegetarian 7-Layer Burrito ($3.22) and the Vegetarian Quesarito ($3.05). The Crunchwrap Supreme exchanges the beef for black beans and becomes vegan-friendly when ordered without cheese or sour cream. Both of the new foods are certified by the American Vegetarian Association (AVA).

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“Our goal is to find ways to incorporate more plant-forward options in the future without sacrificing the big, bold flavors and value,” said Missy Schaaphok, manager of global nutrition and sustainability at Taco Bell. One of Taco Bell’s “2019 Commitments” was to test its first dedicated vegetarian menu.

Taco Bell says their menu already includes 38 vegetarian ingredients, which means that there are eight million possible combinations. Taco Bell says they sell 350 million vegetarian items a year, which is approximately 9 percent of all items sold. If you place your order at a kiosk, online, or from the Taco Bell app allows you to see all of the vegetarian and vegan menu items when you select “Make It Meatless” and “Make It Fresco.” Taco Bell also shows a green letter “V” on menu items that are meatless.

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Taco Bell Chief Food Innovation Officer Liz Matthews said that the Mexican fast-food chain is “definitely looking into” plant-based versions of meat, cheese, and even potentially eggs as possible new menu items according to Food Beast.

“Our goal is to find ways to incorporate more plant-forward options in the future without sacrificing the big, bold flavors and value,” Missy Schaaphok, manager of global nutrition and sustainability at Taco Bell, told Business Insider. “Our new in-store vegetarian menu being tested in Dallas reflects the same uniquely Taco Bell standards our existing customers know and love, while appealing to other consumers looking to try new food items that appeal to their dietary lifestyle.”

In another health-conscious offering, Taco Bell recently introduced two new zero-sugar beverages: Pepsi Zero Sugar and Mountain Dew Baja Blast Zero Sugar. Taco Bell has set a goal to offer at least 50 percent of their medium-sized fountain beverage to contain less than 100 calories and less than 20 grams of sugar by 2022.

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[BusinessInsider]