Fans Are Petitioning to Bring Back This Discontinued Taco Bell Item
Taco Bell has broken many hearts this year by cutting some long-standing fan-favorite items from their menu.
Like many fast food operators, the beloved Mexican chain opted to streamline their offer in order to simplify operations during the pandemic, when customer demand and ingredient supply created unpredictability for food businesses. (Related: 9 Restaurant Chains That Closed Hundreds of Locations This Summer.)
First cuts were announced in July, and they included the Grilled Steak Soft Taco, 7-Layer Burrito, Quesarito, Nachos Supreme, Beefy Fritos Burrito, Spicy Tostada, Triple Layer Nachos, Spicy Potato Soft Taco, Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes, Loaded Grillers, Chips & Dips, and the Mini Skillet Bowl. But the outcry over one particular item, the Quesarito, prompted swift online action in the form of a petition signed by thousands of fans.
Taco Bell has since chimed in with news that the Quesarito can still be ordered online or via their mobile app, so maybe petitioning menu changes works?
That certainly seems to be the opinion of the 80,000 people that signed the latest petition trying to prevent the removal of another iconic Taco Bell item: the Mexican pizza.
The pizza found itself on the chopping block in the second round of major menu cuts that were announced just last month. Besides the pizza, the chain said they will also be getting rid of items with shredded chicken—including the Shredded Chicken Soft Taco, Shredded Chicken Burrito, and Shredded Chicken Quesadilla Melt, on Nov. 5.
Since the announcement, a petition launched on Change.org has garnered tens of thousands of signatures by fans who are trying to save their favorite late-night menu option that also seems to be one of the rare vegetarian and halal picks on the menu.
"This is an item loved by many, especially the South Asian community. Losing this item would not only be the loss of one of our favorite foods but a piece of our childhood & heritage as Indian Americans," wrote digital entrepreneur Krish Jagirdar who started the petition. "Please band together, show support, and save the Mexican Pizza."
And if you're a die-hard fan, Jagirdar encourages you to head to your nearest Taco Bell and order the pizza to demonstrate to the chain how popular it is. But you probably want to do that anyway since you now have less than a month left to enjoy it.
Why is Taco Bell cutting the Mexican Pizza in the first place?
Taco Bell may have anticipated the outcry over cutting their pizza, because a press release announcing the change also provided a possible upside that may have factored into the chain's decision-making. "One silver lining of saying goodbye to the Mexican Pizza that might help you rest easy is that removing it from our menus helps us work towards our commitment to leave a lighter footprint on our planet. Currently, Mexican Pizza packaging accounts for over 7 million pounds of paperboard material per year in the U.S.," the statement read.
While for some this reasoning just isn't good enough, others will definitely applaud Taco Bell's steps toward sustainability.
The other explanation Taco Bell provided in their statement is that the move will make room for the return of the Classic Taco Bell combo for $6.99.
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