Taco Bell Cuts More Menu Items, Including Mexican Pizza

"Just rip the Band-Aid off; the pain ends faster that way." You've probably heard this advice at some point in your life, but at Taco Bell, apparently, they prefer the long and agonizing method.

Last September, Taco Bell announced plans to streamline its menu, and though the change was upsetting to fans, what are nine items in the grand scheme of things? Except that was just the beginning. This past July, the Tex-Mex chain announced the departure of another dozen items. And if you're wondering if that was the end, brace yourself. This week, in what we can only hope is the final culling, more menu items are on the chopping block, including their iconic Mexican Pizza.

"We're constantly evaluating ways to provide a more efficient restaurant experience, and have already begun to see progress from streamlining our menu," Mike Grams, Taco Bell's president and global COO, explained. "This evolution of our menu truly paves the way for fresh new ideas. The creativity and innovation in our kitchen hasn't slowed down at all, and we look forward to rolling out new fan favorites."

Taco Bell grouped the cuts into three categories. Shredded chicken is leaving the menu, spelling the end for Shredded Chicken Soft Tacos, Shredded Chicken Burritos, and Shredded Chicken Quesadilla Melts. Pico de gallo is also leaving. But the biggest shock is the loss of Mexican Pizza.

"We know some fans may be sad to see this one go, we are too," the company wrote. That may be an understatement. As of this writing, a Save the Mexican Pizza petition on Change.org has over 17,000 signatures. And the Taco Bell sub on Reddit has locked its page in protest "until Taco Bell reverses their decision."

Anticipating the backlash, Taco Bell tried to give the news a positive spin. "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," the chain wrote. "Currently, Mexican Pizza packaging accounts for over 7 million pounds of paperboard material per year in the U.S." Yes, Taco Bell is dragging the whole of Planet Earth into this one. That's how big of a deal it is.

But here are some other silver linings. First, none of these items are leaving the menu until November 5, meaning you still have two months to pig out on all the Mexican Pizzas you can get your hands on. Second, Taco Bell says we should look out for several new items that will be landing in stores soon. A new $1 Chicken Chipotle Melt is launching nationwide on November 5, a Dragonfruit Freeze will launch across the country on September 24 (just in time for, uh, winter?), and green sauce is getting another test run as a topping at "select markets nationwide," also on November 5. Additionally, the Quesalupa "is finally starting its journey back to menus nationwide next year, kicking off on September 24 with a test in Knoxville, Tennessee."

But the third and final silver lining may be the most important. Taco Bell added, "We want to reassure our fans that this is the final phase of our 2020 menu revamp." That means we should have at least four months without anything else getting axed. Just remember to tell your remaining menu items you love them and hug them every night before they go to sleep.