UPDATE: June 21, 2019 at 1:45 p.m.

We already knew Taco Bell was planning for a vegetarian menu; they began testing products at a Dallas-based location in April. But we figured a Beyond Meat Burrito or Impossible Crunchwrap Supreme would make the cut, and that's just not the case.

"We've met with Beyond, we've met with Impossible," president of North American operations, Julie Felss Masino, told CNBC. "But I think what we're proud of is that we've been doing vegetarian for 57 years."

So while practically every fast food joint in the game is adding Impossible and Beyond Burgers to the menu, Tbell is out on plant-based meat.

UPDATE: April 2, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.

If you’re a vegetarian in the Dallas, TX, area, you’ll want to head to a Taco Bell near you ASAP. The chain is testing a menu that features some Taco Bell favorites catered to a meat-free diet, beginning Thursday, April 4.

The menu will offer two new items: a Vegetarian Crunchwrap Supreme and a Vegetarian Quesarito, both of which are American Vegetarian Association-certified, according to Taco Bell. The 7-Layer Burrito is also featured on the menu.

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Taco Bell
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Taco Bell

The Vegetarian Crunchwrap and Quesarito both include black beans rather than meat. The Crunchwrap is available for $3.70 and the Quesarito is $3.05, Business Insider reports.

Missy Schaaphok, manager of global nutrition and sustainability at Taco Bell, told Business Insider, “Our goal is to find ways to incorporate more plant-forward options in the future without sacrificing the big, bold flavors and value.” The new menu items definitely sound like a step in the right direction!

Let’s hope the Vegetarian Crunchwrap makes its way to the rest of the country soon.

ORIGINAL POST: January 11, 2019 at 1:26 p.m.

It's going to be a good year for Taco Bell fans with a meat-free lifestyle. The chain recently announced its commitments for 2019, and one of them aims at providing a better experience for vegetarians. Specifically, they want it to "be even easier and better for vegetarians and flexitarians" to eat at their restaurants.

So what will that look like in practice at a very meat-oriented establishment? Later this year, Taco Bell is testing its first dedicated in-restaurant vegetarian menu boards, according to a spokesperson for the chain. These boards will feature some of Taco Bell's existing vegetarian menu items, as well as some new, as-of-yet-unspecified selections being introduced later this year.

Taco Bell clearly values catering to the vegetarian crowd—the chain boasts being the only quick service restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA) certified food options. There are reportedly 8 MILLION vegetarian combinations you can order from Taco Bell, and the chain reports selling 350 million vegetarian items a year. The new menu boards "will make it easier for customers to opt for meatless items."

According to Taco Bell, "It's important to note that we cannot guarantee that cross contact with meat products will not occur." Some of the AVA certified menu options available now include a black bean burrito, veggie power menu bowl, cheese quesadilla, and 7-Layer burrito.

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Taco Bell

As it turns out, there are plenty of options at Taco Bell for vegans, as well. The refried pinto beans and black beans are AVA-certified vegan proteins, and across the entire menu, Taco Bell has 28 certified vegan ingredients. Also, all five sauce packets are vegan!

Taco Bell is committing to using "simpler, higher quality ingredients." The chain has already removed all artificial colors and flavors from the core menu, and by spring 2019, plans to fully remove tBHQ (a synthetic preservative) from all availablew items. In addition, Taco Bell is working on several other commitments, including ensuring all its beef is sustainable, improving recycling efforts, and creating more jobs in the U.S.