Taco Bell Seed Oil Report Card
Source: Taco Bell Ingredient Statements, October 15, 2026. Prepared in canola oil.
Based on our menu research, Taco Bell cooks with: canola oil. Across the 148 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.0g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of A (Low Risk).
What oil does Taco Bell fry in? The full answer
Compare Taco Bell with: Chipotle · Del Taco · Moe's Southwest Grill
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Safest Orders at Taco Bell
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
Cleanest full order: Soft Taco (Beef) + Bottled Water, 1.1g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Soft Taco (Beef) | 1.1g |
| Soft Taco | 1.1g |
| Soft Taco Supreme | 1.2g |
| Crunchy Taco | 2.1g |
| Crunchy Taco Supreme | 2.1g |
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Build my orderWhat to Avoid at Taco Bell
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Slow-Roasted Chicken Double Dipping Burritos | 15.9g |
| Steak Double Dipping Burritos | 14.4g |
| Nacho Fries BellGrande | 14.0g |
| Breakfast Crunchwrap - Sausage Patty | 12.8g |
| Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets | 12.0g |
Around the world: Taco Bell
We have Taco Bell in 13 countries. Here is what it cooks with in each one, and how the same menu items compare.
| Country | Cooks with | Nacho Fries | Cinnamon Twists | Burrito Supreme | Caramel Apple Empanada | Cheese Quesadilla | Crunchy Taco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. (this page) | canola oil | 5.4g | 1.4g | 3.3g | 2.7g | 5.7g | 2.1g |
| Australia | canola oil | n/a | 6.0g | 8.0g | n/a | n/a | 5.0g |
| Canada | canola oil | 4.0g | 2.2g | 3.6g | 2.9g | 5.6g | 2.0g |
| Finland | Not disclosed | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.2g | 6.9g | n/a |
| Germany | vegetable oil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Guatemala | Not disclosed | n/a | 3.0g | 3.5g | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| India | vegetable oil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ireland | vegetable oil | n/a | 4.6g | n/a | 7.0g | 5.8g | n/a |
| New Zealand | Not disclosed | n/a | 2.8g | n/a | n/a | 6.0g | n/a |
| Panama | Not disclosed | n/a | n/a | 3.5g | n/a | n/a | 3.0g |
| Puerto Rico | Not disclosed | n/a | n/a | 3.5g | n/a | n/a | 3.0g |
| Spain | Not disclosed | n/a | n/a | n/a | 4.0g | n/a | n/a |
| UK | Not disclosed | n/a | 4.6g | n/a | 7.0g | 4.0g | 2.4g |
Items are matched by name, so portions and recipes can differ between countries. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item. Oil notes are as each country's chain discloses them.
Every Taco Bell item, ranked
All 148 items we have for Taco Bell, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Mountain Dew Baja Blast Freeze | 0.0g |
| Blue Raspberry Freeze | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Mango Peach Agua Refresca | 0.0g |
| Iced Coffee | 0.0g |
| Reduced Fat Sour Cream | 0.0g |
| Red Sauce | 0.0g |
| Premium Hot Coffee | 0.0g |
| Tropicana Orange Juice | 0.0g |
| Dragonfruit Berry Agua Refresca | 0.0g |
| Strawberry Passionfruit Agua Refresca | 0.0g |
| Pineapple Citrus Energy Freeze (16 oz) | 0.0g |
| Pineapple Citrus Energy | 0.0g |
| Pineapple Freeze (20 oz) | 0.0g |
| Strawberry Tropics Energy | 0.0g |
| Tajin Pineapple Strawberry Freeze (20 oz) | 0.0g |
| Pineapple Freeze (16 oz) | 0.0g |
| Tajin Pineapple Strawberry Freeze (16 oz) | 0.0g |
| Pineapple Citrus Energy Freeze (20 oz) | 0.0g |
| Pretty Pink Baja Blast (16 oz) | 0.0g |
| Pretty Pink Baja Blast (30 oz) | 0.0g |
| Pretty Pink Baja Blast (20 oz) | 0.0g |
| Wild Strawberry Freeze (16 oz) | 0.0g |
| Wild Strawberry Freeze (20 oz) | 0.0g |
| Mtn Dew Baja Blast Zero Sugar Dirty Soda (16 oz) | 0.1g |
| Hot Cinnabon Delights Coffee | 0.1g |
| Mtn Dew Baja Blast Dirty Soda (20 oz) | 0.1g |
| Mtn Dew Baja Blast Dirty Soda (30 oz) | 0.1g |
| Mtn Dew Baja Blast Zero Sugar Dirty Soda (20 oz) | 0.1g |
| Mtn Dew Baja Blast Dirty Soda (16 oz) | 0.1g |
| Iced Cinnabon Delights Coffee | 0.1g |
| Mtn Dew Baja Midnight Dirty Soda (16 oz) | 0.1g |
| Mtn Dew Baja Midnight Dirty Soda (20 oz) | 0.1g |
| Tropicana Dirty Lemonade (30 oz) | 0.1g |
| Pepsi Dirty Soda (16 oz) | 0.1g |
| Mtn Dew Baja Midnight Dirty Soda (30 oz) | 0.1g |
| Mtn Dew Baja Blast Dirty Soda Freeze (20 oz) | 0.1g |
| Mtn Dew Baja Blast Zero Sugar Dirty Soda (30 oz) | 0.1g |
| Mtn Dew Baja Blast Dirty Soda Freeze (16 oz) | 0.1g |
| Pepsi Dirty Soda (30 oz) | 0.1g |
| Tropicana Dirty Lemonade (16 oz) | 0.1g |
| Pepsi Dirty Soda (20 oz) | 0.1g |
| Tropicana Dirty Lemonade (20 oz) | 0.1g |
| Strawberry Dream Refresca | 0.1g |
| Pineapple Dragonfruit Dream Refresca | 0.1g |
| Pineapple Dragonfruit Dream Refresca Freeze (16 oz) | 0.1g |
| Pineapple Dragonfruit Dream Refresca Freeze (20 oz) | 0.1g |
| Guacamole | 0.4g |
| Black Beans | 0.5g |
| Nacho Cheese Sauce | 0.6g |
| Milk Bar Birthday Cake Empanada | 0.9g |
| Cheesy Roll Up | 1.0g |
| Strawberry Vanilla Cream Soda Freeze | 1.0g |
| Soft Taco (Beef) | 1.1g |
| Soft Taco | 1.1g |
| Black Beans and Rice | 1.1g |
| Soft Taco Supreme | 1.2g |
| Cinnamon Twists | 1.4g |
| Cinnabon Delights 2 Pack | 1.7g |
| Crunchy Taco | 2.1g |
| Crunchy Taco Supreme | 2.1g |
| Doritos Locos Taco Nacho Cheese | 2.1g |
| Doritos Locos Taco Supreme | 2.1g |
| Pintos 'n Cheese | 2.1g |
| Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes | 2.5g |
| Caramel Apple Empanada | 2.7g |
| Soft Taco (Chicken) | 3.0g |
| Hash Browns | 3.1g |
| Burrito Supreme | 3.3g |
| Spicy Potato Soft Taco | 3.4g |
| Cantina Chicken Soft Taco | 3.4g |
| Chips and Nacho Cheese Sauce | 3.4g |
| Creamy Jalapeno Sauce | 3.4g |
| Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco | 3.5g |
| Classic Chicken Crunchadilla | 3.5g |
| Crispy Chicken Nuggets (5 Piece) | 3.7g |
| Tajin Taco | 3.8g |
| Chipotle Sauce | 3.9g |
| Cheesy Double Beef Burrito | 3.9g |
| Bean Burrito | 4.0g |
| Power Bowl (Chicken) | 4.0g |
| Chalupa Supreme | 4.1g |
| Veggie Bowl | 4.1g |
| Avocado Ranch Sauce | 4.1g |
| Chalupa Supreme - Chicken | 4.1g |
| Black Bean Chalupa Supreme | 4.3g |
| Creamy Chipotle Crispy Chicken Crunchwrap Slider | 4.4g |
| Breakfast Quesadilla - Steak | 4.5g |
| Chips and Nacho Supreme Dip | 4.6g |
| Mini Taco Salad | 4.6g |
| Diablo Ranch Crispy Chicken Crunchwrap Slider | 4.6g |
| Beefy 5-Layer Burrito | 4.7g |
| 3-Cheese Chicken Flatbread Melt | 4.9g |
| Sriracha Chicken Crunchadilla | 4.9g |
| Cinnabon Delights 4 Pack | 5.0g |
| Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Fiesta Potato | 5.1g |
| Breakfast Quesadilla - Bacon | 5.1g |
| Cantina Chicken Bowl | 5.2g |
| Breakfast Quesadilla - Sausage | 5.2g |
| Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Bacon | 5.3g |
| Nacho Fries | 5.4g |
| Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Sausage | 5.4g |
| Veggie Mexican Pizza | 5.6g |
| Steak Gordita Crunch Duos | 5.6g |
| Cheese Quesadilla | 5.7g |
| Steak Quesadilla | 5.8g |
| Chicken Quesadilla | 5.9g |
| Mexican Pizza | 5.9g |
| Double Decker Taco | 6.0g |
| Slow-Roasted Chicken Gordita Crunch Duos | 6.3g |
| Crunchwrap Supreme | 6.4g |
| Avocado Ranch Chicken Stacker | 6.4g |
| Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme | 6.5g |
| Tajin Cheesy Gordita Crunch | 6.9g |
| Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas | 7.0g |
| Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito | 7.2g |
| Grande Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Steak | 7.2g |
| Crispy Chicken Nuggets (10 Piece) | 7.3g |
| Large Nacho Fries | 7.5g |
| Beefy Potato Loaded Griller | 7.7g |
| Grande Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Bacon | 7.8g |
| Grilled Cheese Burrito | 7.9g |
| Cantina Chicken Rolled Quesadilla | 7.9g |
| Grande Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Sausage | 7.9g |
| Loaded Beef Nacho Taco | 8.0g |
| Power Menu Bowl | 8.0g |
| Black Bean Grilled Cheese Burrito | 8.1g |
| Breakfast California Crunchwrap | 8.4g |
| Naked Chicken Chalupa | 8.8g |
| Cheesy Gordita Crunch | 8.9g |
| Doritos Cheesy Gordita Crunch | 8.9g |
| Diablo Ranch Steak Nacho Fries | 9.9g |
| Chipotle Ranch Grilled Chicken Burrito | 10.0g |
| Cheesy Dipping Burrito | 10.0g |
| Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla | 10.0g |
| Nachos BellGrande | 10.1g |
| Cinnabon Delights 12 Pack | 10.4g |
| Creamy Sriracha Chicken Nacho Fries | 10.5g |
| Breakfast Crunchwrap - Steak | 10.8g |
| Breakfast Crunchwrap - Bacon | 11.4g |
| Cantina Chicken Burrito | 11.8g |
| Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets | 12.0g |
| Triple Double Crunchwrap | 12.0g |
| Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza | 12.0g |
| Breakfast Crunchwrap - Sausage Patty | 12.8g |
| Nacho Fries BellGrande | 14.0g |
| Steak Double Dipping Burritos | 14.4g |
| Slow-Roasted Chicken Double Dipping Burritos | 15.9g |
Fry Oil History at Taco Bell
Cooking in canola oil since April 2007.
Taco Bell announced the change in November 2006 and finished at its roughly 4,200 single brand US stores by April 2007. The new oil was a naturally stable canola oil developed by Dow AgroSciences. About 1,400 stores shared with KFC went to low linolenic soybean oil instead. Source
Every documented oil switch across the industry lives on the Oil History timeline.
Frequently asked
Does Taco Bell use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Taco Bell cooks with: canola oil. Across the 148 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.0g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of A (Low Risk).
What oil does Taco Bell cook with?
Our research indicates: Canola oil in the fryers. Taco Bell's official ingredient statements (the Nutritionix ingredient search embedded at tacobell.com/nutrition/ingredients, read 2026-10-16) say "Prepared in canola oil" for the chalupa shells, Mexican Pizza shells, Cinnamon Twists and the fried potato items (the crunchy Taco Shell itself lists "vegetable oil (soybean, corn and/or cottonseed oil)" and no "prepared in canola oil" line, read 2026-10-20), and "canola and/or vegetable oil" for the nacho chips; its menu data is based on a zero trans fat canola frying oil. Soybean oil comes in elsewhere: the flour tortillas (soybean shortening), the chalupa dough, most sauces and dressings, and the vegetable oil blends the fries are par-fried in. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Taco Bell use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Taco Bell cooks with canola oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Taco Bell seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Taco Bell cooks with canola oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Taco Bell?
Soft Taco (Beef) is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Taco Bell, at an estimated 1.1g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Taco Bell?
Slow-Roasted Chicken Double Dipping Burritos is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Taco Bell, at an estimated 15.9g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.
Compare other chains
Chipotle · Qdoba · Moe's Southwest Grill · Del Taco · Taco John's · Taco Cabana
See where Taco Bell lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.