Often times we collegiettes must deal with the unhealthy consequences of eating greasy, late-night fast food after a long night out... or at the library. These unhealthy food choices usually result in the dreaded Freshman 15 that every upperclassman tries to warn us about before we even step foot on campus. But, there may be light at the end of the tunnel with everyone’s favorite taco and burrito place, Taco Bell, swapping its artificial, fattening ingredients for healthier ones.
Taco Bell announced on Tuesday that it would be getting rid of all the artificial colors, chemical ingredients, and added trans-fats in their meals by the end of 2015. This change will result in some items, such as the nacho cheese and red tortilla chips, losing the bright coloring Taco Bell items are usually known for. Artificial ingredients, such as the black flavor pepper (which'll be replaced with real black pepper), high fructose corn syrup and unsustainable palm oil will not find themselves in Taco Bell’s menu items any longer.
Taco Bell is not the first food chain to make these changes, as they join Panera, which decided to rid their menu of artificial additives by the end of 2016 and Chipotle, which refuses to use GMOs in their items. Also, fellow Yum! Brands-owned chain, Pizza Hut, has opted to get rid of artificial flavors by July. McDonalds and Subway have also started reducing the amount of chemical ingredients in their items. These restaurant changes are a response to the steady increase of millennials who are calling for healthier food options on their menus. Taco Bell CEO Brian Niccol says that millennial customers are declaring “less is más when it comes to ingredients.”
Aaron Allen, a restaurant industry consultant and analyst expects more restaurants and food chains to transform their menus to reach the growing number of health-conscious individuals: “We're finally hitting the tipping point in the food industry when it comes to healthier and fresher ingredients.” Allen explained to Mashable, “I think they saw this as an opportunity to get out in front of these changes before they are absolutely forced to...They are scrambling to get on it in such a way that it creates a positive public perception for them.”
With these transformations being implemented before and during the new school year, college students will have more freedom to choose menu items without worrying about the unhealthy ingredients they are eating, presenting the Freshman 15 as a myth possibly to never be heard of again.