By Chelsey Dulaney
Yum Brands Inc.'s Taco Bell and Pizza Hut restaurant chains
committed Tuesday to removing artificial flavors and colors from
most of their food, joining a host of other food companies who are
opting for more natural ingredients in the face of changing
consumer tastes.
Taco Bell is aiming to replace the ingredients with natural
alternatives by the end of the year. Taco Bell said it would also
remove additives like added trans fats and hopes to remove
additional artificial preservatives and additives by the end of
2017. The moves affect more than 95% of Taco Bell's core food
items, the company said, but it doesn't apply to beverages or to
co-branded items. A spokeswoman confirmed that the exempt items
include its Doritos Locos Tacos, an item based on PepsiCo Inc.
snack chips that is one of Taco Bell's best-selling products.
Pizza Hut, which has already eliminated trans fats and
monosodium glutamate from its food, said it will remove artificial
colors and flavors from its nationally available pizzas by the end
of July.
Yum Chief Executive Greg Creed, in an interview before he took
over the top job in January, flagged the plans to strip out
ingredients like preservatives, saying that "We have to clean up
our menu labels. What people want are things on labels that they
can pronounce."
Other food makers have made similar moves recently as they look
to respond to a consumer shift toward foods seen as simpler and
more healthful.
Earlier this month, Panera Bread Co. committed itself to
removing at least 150 artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors and
preservatives from its menu by the end of next year.
In March, McDonald's Corp. said it would stop selling chicken in
the U.S. made from birds raised with antibiotics that are important
to human health.
In February, Nestlé SA said it would remove artificial flavors
and colors from its Crunch and Butterfinger candy bars, and other
chocolates in the U.S.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. recently said it has mostly
completed removing genetically modified ingredients from its supply
chain amid growing consumer concerns about the agricultural
technology.
Taco Bell already has reduced sodium by 15% across its menu and
removed all kid's meals from its U.S. store menus. Pizza Hut also
is reducing sodium in its pizzas.
Julie Jargon contributed to this article.
Write to Chelsey Dulaney at Chelsey.Dulaney@wsj.com
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