Taco Bell Launches Industry’s First Certified Veg Menu

Taco Bell is making history by becoming the first fast-food chain to introduce a menu certified by the American Vegetarian Association (AVA). The taco purveyor’s new menu includes 13 vegetarian offerings, and according to a press release, “Customers can also hack the menu” to create customized vegan meals with any of the 26 AVA-certified vegan ingredients (which include guacamole, premium Latin rice, and chunky salsa). The announcement is more evidence that fast-food restaurants unwilling to evolve with customer demand will see a decrease in sales, while eateries adopting fresher, healthier, often veg-friendly options are finding success. “At Taco Bell, vegetarians are not an afterthought,” Brian Niccol, CEO of Taco Bell Corp, said. “We’re proud to treat meat lovers and vegetarians equally—equally delicious, equally craveable, and equally affordable.”