National fast food chain Taco Bell announced all of its US corporate and franchise-owned restaurants—more than 6,000 in all—will exclusively serve cage-free eggs by Dec. 31, 2016.
“We are a brand that has our finger on the pulse of not only what appeals to our customers’ tastes, but also the issues they care most about and they tell us they want food that’s simple and easy to understand,” says Brian Niccol, CEO of Taco Bell Corp. “Implementing this change at record pace underscores that we are always listening and responding to our customers, while doing what is right for our business.”
The company also confirmed that by the beginning of 2016 it will deliver on its goal of removing artificial flavors and colors, added trans fat, high fructose corn syrup and unsustainable palm oil from its core menu items. The company also plans to introduce aspartame-free diet Pepsi products in all of its US restaurants beginning in early 2016.