Why did Taco Bell ditch its shredded chicken? Believe it or not, it wasn't just to make fans mad. In addition to streamlining the food prep process, the move makes room for some new items for a whole different set of diners.
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00:00Why did Taco Bell ditch its shredded chicken?
00:03Believe it or not, it wasn't just to make fans mad.
00:06In addition to streamlining the food prep process, the move makes room for some new
00:11items for a whole different set of diners.
00:14Taco Bell has been around since the 1960s, and its menu has constantly been evolving.
00:19Many fan favorites have come and gone over the years, like the Double Decker Taco, which
00:24was essentially two tacos for the price of one.
00:27Or the admittedly gimmicky Cool Ranch Doritos Taco.
00:31Or there's also the beloved-but-now-gone Verde sauce, still mourned by its most devoted fans.
00:37Nacho Fries, the spicy potatoes that came with a side of cheesy queso for dipping, took
00:42years of development.
00:44They've disappeared from the menu and come back several times.
00:48One of the most recent departures from the Taco Bell menu is not a dish, but an ingredient
00:53— shredded chicken.
00:55The chain removed it from the menu in November 2020, leaving only a few chicken entrees available.
01:02The Chicken Quesadilla, the Chicken Chipotle Melt, and the Chicken Chalupa Combo, all dishes
01:07made with shredded chicken, including the Shredded Chicken Soft Taco, Shredded Chicken
01:11Burrito, and Shredded Chicken Quesadilla Melt, were taken off the menu permanently.
01:16In a statement, Taco Bell said of its menu changes,
01:19"...a simplified menu and innovation process will leave room for new fan favorites.
01:25Proceeded progress in categories such as plant-based diets, and even opportunities
01:29for the return of some classics, on a limited time basis."
01:32Essentially, Taco Bell's menu had become overloaded with too many items, and it was becoming hard
01:38for individual locations to keep up.
01:41In a 2020 press release, company president Mike Grams explained that the decision to
01:46remove certain menu items, like the shredded chicken, was part of an effort to make the
01:50chain's processes more efficient.
01:53Ultimately, streamlining the menu was meant to make the dining experience faster and more
01:57pleasant for customers, as well as keep the menu as cheap as possible.
02:02Shredded chicken wasn't the only casualty.
02:04Other items removed at the time included the Mexican Pizza and Pico de Gallo.
02:09"...Mexican pizza, it's gone forever.
02:12Pico de Gallo and shredded chicken are also gone."
02:16For the record, Mexican pizza did make a comeback in 2022.
02:20Taco Bell's leadership realized that getting rid of these items may disappoint some people,
02:24but the chain promised it's for the best.
02:27Grams said in the company press release,
02:29"...while we know fans may be understandably sad to see some of their favorites go, this
02:34evolution of our menu truly paves the way for fresh, new ideas."
02:39While the intent is for regulars to have a smoother and more seamless experience at Taco
02:43Bell, this reduced menu could also be great news for vegans looking for more options at
02:49the chain.
02:50A few non-meat options have stepped up in shredded chicken's place.
02:54A little less than two years after officially announcing the removal of products including
02:59shredded chicken quesadilla melt and seven-layer burrito, Taco Bell has announced a more innovative
03:05twist to its menu.
03:06The chain's offerings have always been at least somewhat veggie-friendly, but thanks
03:10to some recent partnerships, now Taco Bell has more vegan options than ever.
03:15In September 2022, the company issued a press release announcing a collaboration with Beyond
03:20Meat.
03:21Specifically, Beyond Carne Asada Steak would be available in the test market of Dayton,
03:26Ohio for a limited time.
03:28Taco Bell's plant-based efforts don't stop there.
03:31According to VegNews, the chain started testing vegan beef in 50 locations in August 2022,
03:38starting in Birmingham, Alabama.
03:40It was offered as part of classic options such as Nachos Belgrande and Crispy Melt Tacos
03:45without extra cost.
03:47This beef is developed with chickpea and pea proteins, but it's seasoned in a way that
03:52mimics the meat that typically comes with those dishes.
03:55VegNews also reports that the chain did the same in the Detroit area October 2021, all
04:01part of the Cravatarian menu, which includes veggie versions of acclaimed items like Crunchwrap
04:06Supreme and Burrito Supreme.
04:09Taco Bell didn't charge customers for substituting vegan meat for beef for accessibility reasons.
04:14Chief Innovation Officer Liz Matthews told Forbes,
04:17"...it was important not to have an upcharge.
04:20As a brand, we want to make sure this is craveable, as craveable as our seasoned beef, and to
04:25democratize the product.
04:28It's not shredded chicken, but it's certainly something."