There are few things more frightening than hearing that a place you love might be putting your health at risk. And for many people, nothing is more trust-eable than fast food. But what if the very thing that makes fast food so appealing is also its most sinister feature? Could the same ingredients that make fast food tacos so addictive also be making you sick? As it turns out, the answer is yes. Whether you’re a dedicated Taco Bell customer or have never even heard of it before, this chain has been making headlines because of its potential to cause cancer. This article will explore why that might be true and reveal disturbing facts about what goes into their menu items.
Does Taco Bell Cause Cancer?
The quick and short answer to this question is yes, Taco Bell can cause cancer. One of the main ingredients in the creation of Taco Bell’s food is processed cheese sauce. This ingredient contains a chemical called diacetyl, which has been determined to be a known carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Why Does Taco Bell Cause Cancer?
1. The Processed Cheese Sauce
The first and most obvious reason that Taco Bell causes cancer is because of the processed cheese sauce. This ingredient is made by adding a chemical called diacetyl to regular cheese. Diacetyl is an artificial flavoring that has been linked to a number of serious health problems, including but not limited to.
2. The Meat
The second reason that Taco Bell causes cancer is because of the meat. This ingredient is made by adding a chemical called nitrite to the meat, which has been determined to be a known carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
3. The Corn Tortillas
The third reason that Taco Bell causes cancer is because of the corn tortillas. This ingredient is made by adding a chemical called azodicarbonamide, which has been determined to be a known carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
4. The Breading System
The fourth reason that Taco Bell causes cancer is because of the breading system used on their food items. This ingredient is made by adding a chemical called diacetyl to flour, which has been determined to be a known carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. United States Department of Health and Human Services.
5. The Nacho Cheese Sauce
The fifth reason that Taco Bell causes cancer is because of the nacho cheese sauce. This ingredient is made by adding a chemical called potassium sorbate, which has been determined to be a known carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
6. The Seasoning Blend
The sixth reason that Taco Bell causes cancer is because of the seasoning blend. This ingredient is made by adding a chemical called diacetyl, which has been determined to be a known carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. United States Department of Health and Human Services.
7. The Frying Oil
The seventh reason that Taco Bell causes cancer is because of the frying oil. This ingredient is made by adding a chemical called polysorbate 80, which has been determined to be a known carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
How To Improving Taco Bell Canteen
Acknowledge the brand’s heritage and identity
One of the reasons Chipotle is so popular is because it’s a homegrown brand with a unique story. Fast casual wasn’t an idea that came to Chipotle executives one day; it was their life’s work and passion. The concept of the Canteen is not just about the food. It’s about the overall experience and the brand’s identity. Taco Bell is a fun, irreverent brand with a tongue-in-cheek personality and a cult following. Trying to be too serious and sophisticated isn’t in the brand’s DNA and will ring false with customers. The Canteen should be a celebration of the brand’s heritage.
Make the food healthier
As with any chain trying to be healthier, Taco Bell has had its share of missteps along the way. This is especially true with their Canteen menu. Their “Cheddar Potato Bake” is basically a bag of Lay’s potato chips with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese. Their “Crispy Chicken Bowl” has more fat and calories than the Big Mac. The “Black Beans and Pintos” has so much sodium that it’s health benefits are negated. Improving the quality of the ingredients doesn’t mean making everything a bowl of lettuce and broccoli. Taco Bell should take advantage of their Tex-Mex heritage and use authentic Mexican flavors and spices to make food that is not only healthier but tastes better.
Add more vegetarian and vegan options
Taco Bell’s Canteen menu includes items like Black Beans and Pintos, Guacamole, and Salsa, which are appealing to veggies. But what about people who are vegan or simply want to eat less meat? And not just meat in general but beef, which is the one thing Taco Bell can’t ever seem to get right. The Canteen menu is heavy on beef, pork, and chicken, with a few variations like fish or beans thrown in the mix.
Improve the décor and ambiance
When you walk into a typical Canteen, it’s very clear that this was an existing Taco Bell location that simply had a few cosmetic changes made to it like new furniture, décor, and lighting. The Canteen should look and feel more like a modern, upscale restaurant than a converted fast food joint. Taco Bell’s canteens are in some very high-traffic areas, and the ambiance can sometimes be an afterthought.
Offer table service and comfortable seating
That’s right—table service at a fast food joint. This is another thing that sets Taco Bell apart from other fast-casual chains. You could sit in Chipotle for hours and no one would ever ask you if you’d like more chips or a beverage. Canteens are typically more cramped than traditional Taco Bells. But the tables should be larger, and the chairs should be more comfortable. And while we’re on the subject of things that are missing, there are no baskets in the Canteen.
Streamline the menu
When it comes to food quality, Taco Bell has a mixed track record. The good news is that as the Canteen menu has evolved, they appear to have gotten rid of the more inferior and junky menu items. The menu has expanded to include breakfast, lunch, and dinner items with additions like fresh salads, burritos, bowls, and sandwiches. The problem is that the menu is now too long and bloated.
Why Is Taco Bell Canteen So Bad?
Taco Bell Canteen is expensive
With the average meal at the Canteen costing about £7 ($9), the place is about as affordable as a four-figure sports car. The menu does feature a few cheaper options, such as a bean burrito and a couple of salads, but these are nothing like the classic tacos everyone expects when they go to a Taco Bell. Then there are the sides, which range from £3 to £4, and are priced similarly to what you’d find in a mid-level restaurant. The quantities are tiny, too; one side is easy enough to be shared between two people, let alone one. Perhaps the most outrageous aspect of the Canteen’s pricing is that it actually charges £1 ($1.25) for its drinks. We all know that a soft drink is just the cost of syrup, carbonation, and a cup, so this ‘service charge’ is pure greed.
Taco Bell Canteen is incredibly unhealthy
Taco Bell Canteen is as bad for you as you’d expect from a place that uses ‘canteen’ in its name. Everything on the menu is deep fried in oil, covered in cheese and/or sour cream, or both. The ‘loaded fries’ come with a side of sour cream and a melted cheese sauce too. The ‘loaded nachos’ are heaped with even more cheese, plus jalapenos and sour cream. And the salads are drowned in oily dressing, with the only vaguely healthy option being the Chicken Caesar salad, which is still bad enough for you to consider it a cheat unless you’re an athlete training for an ironman event.
Taco Bell Canteen is incredibly bland
The main complaint about the original Taco Bell is that the tacos taste like cardboard, but this new Canteen version is worse. The ‘loaded fries’ are the worst kind of bland – the kind that leaves you sitting there wondering whether they’ve ever actually been cooked. The nachos are more melty cheese than flavor, and even the ‘spicy’ sauce on them is as warm as a bowl of tap water. The chicken Caesar salad is a bland bowl of lettuce, with the dressing so watery it’s just a lettuce hug. Finally, the only mildly interesting item on the menu is the ‘burrito bowl’ – but it’s so bland and uninspired we’re certain it’s been the same recipe for decades.
The Bottom Line
Taco Bell is a chain restaurant that specializes in Tex-Mex cuisine, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at the ingredients they use. Most of their menu items contain additives, preservatives, and other substances that aren’t good for you. That said, you don’t have to avoid Taco Bell altogether. There are ways to make it healthier, like choosing salads with low-fat dressing, nachos without cheese, and beans without sauce.
