Taco Bell is a popular fast food chain known for its Mexican-inspired menu items like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos. However, for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, navigating the Taco Bell menu can be tricky. One item in particular that is off-limits is the chain’s famous nacho cheese sauce.
What is gluten and why must some people avoid it?
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. For most people, consuming gluten is not a problem. However, for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten triggers an autoimmune response that damages the small intestine. This can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, fatigue, and more. The only treatment for celiac disease is strictly avoiding all foods and products containing gluten. People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity may also need to avoid gluten to manage their symptoms.
In the United States, it is estimated that around 1 in 100 people has celiac disease and 6 in 100 have gluten sensitivity. This amounts to over 5 million Americans who need to follow a gluten-free diet. Thankfully, awareness and availability of quality gluten-free foods has expanded greatly in recent years. Major restaurant chains like Taco Bell have also made efforts to accommodate gluten-free diners. However, there are still some menu landmines to watch out for.
Why is Taco Bell’s nacho cheese sauce not gluten-free?
Taco Bell’s classic nacho cheese sauce contains wheat flour as an ingredient. Wheat flour contains gluten, meaning the nacho cheese sauce is not gluten-free. Here’s a look at the Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce ingredients:
– Water
– Vegetables oils (canola, sunflower, corn)
– Food starch-modified
– Whey protein concentrate
– Wheat flour
– Maltodextrin
– Sodium phosphates
– Salt
– Whey
– Garlic powder
– Onion powder
– Natural flavors
– Yeast extract
– Spices
– Citric acid
– Caramel color
The wheat flour is used as a thickener and stabilizer to give Taco Bell’s nacho cheese its smooth, creamy texture. But this makes the sauce unsuitable for people needing to follow a strict gluten-free diet.
What gluten-free menu options does Taco Bell offer?
While the nacho cheese contains gluten, Taco Bell does offer some gluten-free options. Here are some of the menu items that are naturally gluten-free:
– Beef, chicken or steak soft/crunchy tacos or burritos with a corn tortilla
– Bowl entrees with rice, beans, meat
– Salad entrees without tortilla strips
– Chicken, steak or veggie soft taco supreme without cheese or sour cream
– Chicken, steak or veggie quesadillas with a corn tortilla
– Cilantro lime rice
– Black beans
– Pinto beans
– Chips and guacamole
– Guacamole
– Chicken, steak, or veggie marinated grilled soft taco without cheese or sour cream
– Fresco style soft taco, crunchy taco
Some sauces like chipotle sauce, red sauce, green sauce, and black beans sauce are also gluten-free. Be sure to confirm gluten-free status with the restaurant, as ingredients can change. Those with celiac disease need to be extra cautious of cross-contact when ordering.
What about Taco Bell’s Power Menu Bowl without tortilla chips?
One semi-hidden gluten-free option at Taco Bell is to order a Power Menu Bowl without the tortilla chips. The Power Menu Bowl comes with rice, beans, protein like chicken or steak, salsa, and other toppings assembled in a bowl rather than a tortilla. Simply asking for the bowl without chips omits the only gluten ingredient.
Just keep in mind that for those extremely sensitive, items like rice and beans may be processed alongside wheat-containing foods. Some celiac experts advise avoiding rice dishes at fast food restaurants. But the Power Menu Bowl without chips may be an acceptable risk for some gluten-free diners, especially those with non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
What about soft taco shells or taco salad shells, are they gluten-free?
No, Taco Bell’s crunchy taco shells and crispy taco salad shells also contain wheat flour and are not gluten-free. The culprit once again is wheat flour added to give structure and crispness to the shells. So soft corn or flour tortillas are the best bet for taco shells.
Here are the Taco Bell crunchy taco shell ingredients:
– Bleached enriched wheat flour
– Water
– Vegetable shortening (soybean and/or corn oil)
– Contains 2% or less of:
– Salt
– Baking soda
– Dough conditioner (sodium metabisulfite)
– Preservatives (calcium propionate, sorbic acid)
– Cellulose gum
– Cellulose
– Guar gum
– Food starch
– Xanthan gum
– Soy lecithin
– Artificial colors (yellow 6, red 40)
As you can see, the wheat flour is a primary ingredient. The taco salad shells contain similar wheat-based ingredients.
Can you eat just the nacho cheese filling and avoid the chips?
No, the nacho cheese sauce at Taco Bell contains gluten regardless of whether it is served with chips or used as a topping. Even just the cheese sauce on its own is not gluten-free.
Why doesn’t Taco Bell make their nacho cheese sauce gluten-free?
Taco Bell likely uses wheat flour in their nacho cheese sauce because it helps create a smooth, thick texture and acts as an emulsifying agent. Removing the wheat flour would alter the consistency that customers have come to expect from Taco Bell’s classic cheese sauce.
Developing a gluten-free cheese sauce that mimics the original would be challenging and time-intensive in a fast food environment. It may require more expensive specialty ingredients to achieve the same mouthfeel without gluten. The volume of cheese sauce used across all of Taco Bell’s 7000+ restaurants also makes reformulating a huge undertaking.
For a fast food chain like Taco Bell, there is little incentive financially to develop a gluten-free nacho cheese sauce unless consumers demand it. Those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity represent a relatively small percentage of the customer base. So Taco Bell likely sees keeping their original nacho cheese recipe as the best choice for appeal and economics.
Do other fast food chains have gluten-free cheese sauces?
Yes, some other fast food chains have developed gluten-free nacho cheese sauces to accommodate gluten-free diners. Here are a few examples:
– Chick-fil-A – Chick-fil-A’s cheese sauce does not contain any wheat, barley, rye or gluten ingredients. However, potential cross-contact with wheat in the kitchen is possible.
– Chipotle Mexican Grill – Chipotle uses a gluten-free cornstarch-based cheese sauce thickened without wheat flour.
– Qdoba Mexican Eats – Qdoba recently reformulated their queso to be gluten-free. They use a cornstarch-based sauce as well.
– Domino’s Pizza – Domino’s gluten-free pizza uses a specially formulated gluten-free pizza cheese without wheat. Regular wheat-based cheese is used on non-gluten-free pizzas.
So gluten-free nacho cheese sauces are definitely possible at fast food restaurants. Consumer awareness and demand for gluten-free menu options has likely encouraged brands like Chipotle and Qdoba to offer gluten-friendly choices. But Taco Bell has yet to follow suit.
Would gluten-free nacho cheese impact taste or performance?
Reformulating the Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce to be gluten-free would undoubtedly impact some aspects of the taste, texture, and performance of the cheese. Here are some potential differences going gluten-free may have:
– Texture – Wheat flour contributes thickness, viscosity, and smooth mouthfeel. A gluten-free alternative like cornstarch or tapioca starch may not achieve quite the same creaminess.
– Flavor – Wheat flour has a neutral flavor that doesn’t interfere with the cheesy nacho taste. Gluten-free starches may introduce subtle flavors.
– Melting properties – The melting consistency when heated could vary slightly with gluten-free thickeners.
– Appearance – Wheat flour helps maintain an even orange hue. Gluten-free ingredients may impact color vibrancy.
– Shelf life – Wheat flour and stabilizers help maintain stability, freshness and prevent separation over time. Gluten-free ingredients may impact shelf life.
However, gluten-free thickeners like cornstarch and gums have improved tremendously. With careful fine-tuning, Taco Bell’s culinary team could likely develop a gluten-free nacho cheese that very closely resembles the original. But some minor differences would be inevitable.
Can you request gluten-free nacho cheese at Taco Bell?
Unfortunately, no. Taco Bell currently does not accommodate requests for gluten-free nacho cheese sauce, even if made without chips. All locations use the standard cheese containing wheat flour, so gluten-free nacho cheese is not available upon request.
Taco Bell’s online information for gluten-sensitive diners states: “Taco Bell CANNOT guarantee that any product is completely gluten free.” So those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should avoid the nacho cheese and chips due to uncertainty about cross-contact.
What’s the best nacho cheese alternative at Taco Bell?
The closest gluten-free substitute for Taco Bell’s nacho cheese would be to order a side of avocado ranch sauce. While it’s thicker than the nacho cheese, the creaminess of the avocado ranch sauce makes it the best stand-in.
Another option is to ask for a side of red or green hot sauce as a topping for nachos. The vivid sauces will soak into the chips for a flavorful tang without gluten. Stick to corn chips to keep your nachos gluten-free.
Lastly, don’t forget that guacamole also makes a fantastic gluten-free “cheese” sauce for nachos. The chunks of avocado pair perfectly with salty corn chips for a fresh take on classic cheesy nachos.
Should Taco Bell consider a gluten-free cheese sauce?
There’s certainly an argument to be made that offering a gluten-free nacho cheese would better accommodate Taco Bell fans avoiding gluten. As gluten-free eating grows in popularity for health reasons beyond celiac disease, fast food brands have added gluten-free options and callouts on menus. Taco Bell lists some naturally gluten-free choices online, but a modified gluten-free cheese would show an increased commitment.
Competitors like Chipotle and Qdoba demonstrate it’s possible to create crave-worthy gluten-free cheese sauce at scale. As more millennials and Generation Z consumers shop with dietary needs top of mind, they likely expect gluten-free choices from leading chains.
On the other hand, Taco Bell has a winning formula with their classic nacho cheese unchanged since the 1970s. Messing with a nostalgic favorite could alienate some consumers who adore the original recipe. There’s also the cost factor of developing and producing a gluten-free alternative.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether there is sufficient demand and sales potential to justify R&D investment in a gluten-free cheese sauce. With the right marketing campaign and communication, a new gluten-friendly cheese sauce could drive brand engagement and praise for progressive menu innovation.
Should you avoid Taco Bell with celiac disease?
Those with celiac disease need to take extra precautions when eating at Taco Bell. Due to shared cooking equipment and prep areas, wheat flour can spread through contamination. Taco Bell does not currently offer a designated gluten-free preparation space.
Some celiac disease experts advise avoiding Taco Bell and other fast food chains entirely due to uncertainty around cross-contact. The risks of inadvertent gluten exposure may outweigh the convenience.
However, many people with celiac disease do occasionally eat at Taco Bell successfully. Following some tips can help minimize risk:
– Order corn tortilla menu items only, no wheat flour shells
– Skip cheese, creamy sauces, beans, rice, cookies
– Request food prep change gloves and clean prep surfaces
– Avoid busy mealtimes with more cross-contact potential
– Inspect food closely before consuming
At the end of the day, those with celiac disease must weigh their individual comfort level with possible contamination against cravings for fast food favorites.
Is Taco Bell doing enough for gluten-free diners?
Most would agree Taco Bell still has substantial room for improvement when it comes to gluten-free accommodations:
– No designated gluten-free prep area or protocol
– Menu lacks clear gluten-free markings
– Employees not always well-trained on gluten-free needs
– No assurance foods are below 20ppm gluten threshold
– Very limited gluten-free bread/tortilla options
– No gluten-free dessert options
However, Taco Bell does list some gluten-free choices online and makes basic ingredient information available. They use separate fryers for corn and flour tortillas in most locations. Compared to other major fast food chains, they offer similar limited gluten-free accommodations.
Contacting Taco Bell customer service or local restaurant management to provide feedback may help enhance gluten-free offerings in the future. More vocal consumer demand for gluten-free menu transparency and options can influence company decisions.
The bottom line
Those adhering to a gluten-free diet for medical reasons face limitations at Taco Bell. Wheat flour in the nacho cheese sauce and taco shells means these popular items are off the menu. While some naturally gluten-free choices exist, there is risk of cross-contact from shared work areas and tools.
Taco Bell has not prioritized developing a gluten-free cheese sauce or other gluten-free menu items to date. But with growing public interest in gluten-free eating and improved fast food choices, they may expand their options in the future. Contacting the company and local restaurants to request more gluten-free accommodations can help drive awareness and change.
In the meantime, the determined Taco Bell enthusiast can construct a reasonably satisfying gluten-free fast food feast. It just takes special ordering with corn tortillas, skipping the cheese and chips, and loading up on beans, rice, veggies, meat and guac for a tasty taco Tuesday.
