Pizza Hut and Taco Bell to Remove Artificial Colors and Flavors

Two YUM Brand foodservice chains, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, are joining the natural movement, removing artificial colors and flavors from their foods.

Pizza Hut announced plans to make changes to its ingredients brand standards, beginning with the removal of artificial flavors and colors from its nationally available pizzas by no later than the end of July. For more than a year, the Pizza Hut culinary team has been working alongside its suppliers to reformulate its menu, removing many of the artificial additives that have become common across the industry supply chain.

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. The company said the changes will not compromise the taste and flavors.