Taco Bell Goes Natural

Taco Bell has joined a slew of other companies trying to keep up with consumer demand for less processed, more natural foods.

BuzzFeed News reports that Taco Bell has undertaken an effort to remove added trans-fats, high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors, and unsustainable palm oil from products on its menus. The transition to more natural products is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.

The company says these changes will not result in higher prices for its customers.

Palm oil is derived from palm trees and used as both a cooking oil and key ingredient in processed foods. The development of palm oil farms has resulted in serious deforestation and environmental harm in the form of destroying the habitats for a large number of species. These concerns are probably behind the company's decision to phase out unsustainable palm oil.

While Taco Bell is hopping on the natural food band wagon along with competitors like Chipotle and Panera Bread, a number of Taco Bell products will also remain unchanged.

For example, the company's infamous Doritos Locos Tacos, which are tacos in shells made of Doritos chips, will still be available. Taco Bell's Cap'N Crunch donut holes will also still be available. So while the company may be trying to clean up its image, it will still be the go to place for exotic guilty pleasures.

BuzzFeed notes that Taco Bell has not made any pledges to use antibiotic free meat in its products, a step taken by major food companies and producers like McDonald's and Tyson Foods.

As antibiotic resistant strains of various diseases seem to proliferate more and more quickly, consumers and health professionals have been demanding that food companies stop using human antibiotics in their beef, pork, and poultry supplies.