Taco Bell And Pizza Hut To Join The Long List Of Brands Going Into Ingredient Rehab

Fast-food chains and major food manufacturers alike have recently announced attempts to mix unhealthy additives, genetically modified ingredients, and antibiotics important for medical uses in humans. Following these recent food controversies, fast-food giants Taco Bell and Pizza Hut have announced they will eliminate artificial coloring and flavoring from their food in the coming time. Yum Brands Inc. owns both the chain restaurants.

What Are They Up To?

Taco Bell said it plans to replace artificial flavors, colors, and some additives such as trans-fats with more natural ingredients by the end of 2015 and to further remove more artificial ingredients and preservatives wherever possible by the end of 2017. On the other front, Pizza Hut said it will attempt to move away from artificial flavors and colors in its US restaurants by the end of July.

Other Brands To Have Moved Away From Synthetics

Last month, Chipotle became the first major fast-food chain to drop genetically engineered ingredients, and Kraft announced it was moving away from artificial coloring in its macaroni and cheese. In February, Nestle USA said it was removing artificial flavors and certified colors from more than 250 of its products by the end of 2015. Also last year, Subway said it was removing a plastic-based chemical from its bread. In 2009, Starbucks announced it was discontinuing baked goods containing high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and dyes. In addition, Tyson Foods recently said it is eliminating use of medically important antibiotics in its chickens. Perdue Foods announced last September that 95 percent of its chickens were raised without medically important antibiotics. In March, McDonald’s announced it will stop buying chickens raised on human antibiotics within the next two years.

With all these major fast food daddies altering their ingredients, is fast food getting a healthy makeover or just losing it’s taste and becoming flavorless, unappetizing junk? We’ll have to wait and see!