Recipe for Restless Creativity Podcast EP 26: Taco Bell’s Dietitian Marissa Thiry talks about the Journey to Create a Menu that Fits a Wide Variety of Lifestyles Including Vegetarian and Vegan

Taco Bell is known for bringing innovative, craveableMexican-inspired food to the masses. What might not be known is how much goeson behind the scenes to come up with our food. The brand is on a journey tocreate a menu that fits a wide variety of lifestyles and features simple buthigh-quality ingredients that leave our fans wanting more. On this episode of Recipe for Restless Creativity, Mark isjoined by Marissa Thiry, the Senior Associate Manager of Global Nutrition &Sustainability at Taco Bell, who is responsible for coming up with some of yourfavorite menu items. Marissa and Mark will pull the curtain back on Taco Bell’skitchen, and the important work our Registered Dietitians are doing to bringmore choices to our fans. Taco Bell’s vegan and vegetarian ingredients are certified by theAmerican Vegetarian Association. Taco Bell defines “vegetarian” as lacto-ovo,allowing consumption of dairy and eggs but not animal byproducts. Taco Belldefines “vegan” as containing no animal ingredients. It’s important to note,however, that in some restaurants we use the same frying oil to prepare menuitems that may or may not contain animal ingredients. Vegan, vegetarian, andanimal ingredients are handled in common and cross-contact may occur, which maynot be acceptable to certain types of vegetarian or vegan diets. Neither TacoBell, our employees, our franchisees or the AVA assume any responsibility forsuch cross-contact. For allergen and additional nutritional information, visit www.tacobell.com. We prepare and serveproducts containing egg, milk, soy, wheat or other allergens. Our products areprepared on shared equipment and in the same kitchen area and we cannotguarantee that cross contact with allergens will not occur.