vegan News
Taco Bell is testing vegetarian menu items exclusively in Dallas
Tex-Mex chain Taco Bell is testing its first-ever dedicated vegetarian menu, featuring items certified by the American Vegetarian Association (AVA), beginning on April 4.
The menu will feature two brand-new items, both of which use black beans:
- Vegetarian Crunchwrap Supreme. This is a twist on the regular Crunchwrap Supreme, a classic menu item with seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and reduced fat sour cream, wrapped up in a crunchy tostada shell. In the vegetarian version, the beef is replaced by black beans. It's $3.70.
- Vegetarian Quesarito. This is a saucy quesadilla-burrito, packed with black beans. It's $3.05.
This is in addition to the fan-favorite, the already-vegetarian 7-Layer Burrito, which has refried beans, rice, guacamole, shredded lettuce, a three-cheese blend, diced tomatoes, and reduced fat sour cream.
The exciting news is that the items will be tested exclusively in the Dallas market. According to a release, 60 percent of Taco Bell's Dallas-area restaurants will be testing the new vegetarian menu, which amounts to approximately 200 restaurants.
Taco Bell was the first QSR certified by the American Vegetarian Association in 2015. About 9 percent of all items ordered at Taco Bell are either vegetarian or made vegetarian by some type of substitution or removal, and Taco Bell sells 350 million vegetarian items a year.
Diners can identify any AVA-certified items, such as the classic Bean Burrito, by a green "V" symbol on the menu. Those seeking certified vegan options can order vegetarian items and ask for it to be made "Fresco Style."
Pending the results of this Dallas test, Taco Bell will target a national rollout of these changes for late 2019 or early 2020.
Back in January, Taco Bell committed to making things better and easier for vegetarians, flexitarians, and carnivores alike, and the brand is taking a major step toward making that a reality with this new AVA-certified menu.
Taco Bell has also launched two new zero-sugar beverages: Pepsi Zero Sugar and Mountain Dew Baja Blast Zero Sugar.
Fans who place an order via the Taco Bell app or online will be eligible for a free small size of either beverage through April 3. By 2022, Taco Bell is tracking for at least 50 percent of its medium-size fountain beverages to be 100 calories or less, with less than 20 grams of sugar.