Fast food franchises have experienced plummeting sales in the last few years — and for good reason! Americans are finally realizing the worth of eating real food — and the dangers of the sugar and additives that go into so many fast foods. Needless to say, this is an exciting trend.
However, this downturn in sales has retailers of fast food scrambling for ideas to draw customers back in. In an effort to draw people seeking adult beverages along with quick, processed carbohydrates, a Taco Bell location in Wicker Park, Chicago, has applied for a liquor license. If it is granted, this Taco Bell will become the first on the globe to serve alcohol.
So, why is this a bad thing? Two reasons: first, it may encourage more people to actually eat Taco Bell’s disgusting food, and second, the drinks themselves will likely be chock-full of sugar and potentially dangerous additives.
According to a Taco Bell spokesperson, the franchise is, “building a completely new urban restaurant design.” While it is not clear yet what types of alcohol will be served should the liquor license be granted, The Huffington Post speculates that perhaps liquor will be added to Taco Bell’s Freezes, or that beers and margaritas will be offered up.
The Huffington Post also mentions Taco Bell’s previous efforts to introduce alcohol — at its upscale spinoff, US Taco Co., in California. There were plans to feature alcoholic milkshakes at this franchise, but the plan has not come to fruition. Milkshakes — laden with sugar, milk from GMO and hormone-treated cows — plus alcohol? Yuck.
The prospect of adding alcohol to Taco Bell’s Freezes isn’t any more appetizing. To give just a brief summation of the ingredients, the Starburst Strawberry Freeze contains high fructose corn syrup — linked to inflammation, weight gain, and diabetes, to name just a few of its ills — as well as several preservatives, artificial flavors and colors.
Taco Bell’s Mountain Dew Baja Freeze is even worse. Not only does the drink contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, the Mountain Dew it is mixed with also contains brominated vegetable oil (BVO). Mountain Dew may be considered one of the worst sodas out there, due to the presence of this ingredient.
And what can we say about the food? As we have previously reported, Taco Bell recently released the ingredient list for its Signature Recipe Beef, and it’s not pretty. Just a few of the offenders on the list are three types of sugar, caramel color (which is suspected of being a human carcinogen), phosphates, and modified cornstarch (likely made from GMO corn).
Taco Bell spokespeople say that information as to whether the liquor license is accepted will be available this summer. Whether the drinks start flowing or not, we’re staying far, far away.
—The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/15/taco-bell-alcohol_n_7287282.html
http://chicago.eater.com/2015/5/13/8599291/taco-bell-wicker-park-alcohol
https://www.tacobell.com/tacobell/nutrition/information
https://www.thealternativedaily.com/taco-bell-sheds-light-ingredients-signature-recipe-really-want-know
https://www.thealternativedaily.com/breaking-news-study-shows-high-fructose-corn-syrup-dangerous-sugar
https://www.thealternativedaily.com/top-5-worst-artificial-colors
