Taco Bell Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Taco Bell cooks with: canola/soybean oil (fried items: tortilla chips, taco shells, chalupa shells, cinnamon twists). Across the 76 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.2g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
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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 |
|---|---|
| Reduced Fat Sour Cream | 0.0g |
| Cheesy Roll Up | 1.0g |
| Soft Taco (Beef) | 1.1g |
| Soft Taco | 1.1g |
| Soft Taco Supreme | 1.2g |
What to Avoid at Taco Bell
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Nacho Fries BellGrande | 14.0g |
| Breakfast Crunchwrap - Sausage Patty | 12.8g |
| Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets | 12.0g |
| Triple Double Crunchwrap | 12.0g |
| Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza | 12.0g |
Every Taco Bell item, ranked
All 76 items we have for Taco Bell, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Mango Peach Agua Refresca | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Iced Coffee | 0.0g |
| Blue Raspberry Freeze | 0.0g |
| Mountain Dew Baja Blast Freeze | 0.0g |
| Reduced Fat Sour Cream | 0.0g |
| Red Sauce | 0.0g |
| Guacamole | 0.4g |
| Nacho Cheese Sauce | 0.6g |
| Strawberry Vanilla Cream Soda Freeze | 1.0g |
| Cheesy Roll Up | 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 |
| Soft Taco (Chicken) | 3.0g |
| Hash Browns | 3.1g |
| Burrito Supreme | 3.3g |
| Cantina Chicken Soft Taco | 3.4g |
| Spicy Potato Soft Taco | 3.4g |
| Chips and Nacho Cheese Sauce | 3.4g |
| Creamy Jalapeno Sauce | 3.4g |
| Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco | 3.5g |
| Chipotle Sauce | 3.9g |
| Bean Burrito | 4.0g |
| Power Bowl (Chicken) | 4.0g |
| Chalupa Supreme | 4.1g |
| Veggie Bowl | 4.1g |
| Avocado Ranch Sauce | 4.1g |
| Black Bean Chalupa Supreme | 4.3g |
| Beefy 5-Layer Burrito | 4.7g |
| Cinnabon Delights 4 Pack | 5.0g |
| Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Fiesta Potato | 5.1g |
| Cantina Chicken Bowl | 5.2g |
| Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Bacon | 5.3g |
| Nacho Fries | 5.4g |
| Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Sausage | 5.4g |
| Cheese Quesadilla | 5.7g |
| Steak Quesadilla | 5.8g |
| Chicken Quesadilla | 5.9g |
| Mexican Pizza | 5.9g |
| Double Decker Taco | 6.0g |
| Crunchwrap Supreme | 6.4g |
| Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas | 7.0g |
| Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito | 7.2g |
| Grande Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Steak | 7.2g |
| Large Nacho Fries | 7.5g |
| 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 |
| Cheesy Gordita Crunch | 8.9g |
| Doritos Cheesy Gordita Crunch | 8.9g |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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/soybean oil (fried items: tortilla chips, taco shells, chalupa shells, cinnamon twists). Across the 76 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.2g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Taco Bell cook with?
Our research indicates: canola/soybean oil (fried items: tortilla chips, taco shells, chalupa shells, cinnamon twists). 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/soybean oil (fried items: tortilla chips, taco shells, chalupa shells, cinnamon twists), 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/soybean oil (fried items: tortilla chips, taco shells, chalupa shells, cinnamon twists), which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Taco Bell?
Reduced Fat Sour Cream is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Taco Bell, at an estimated 0.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Taco Bell?
Nacho Fries BellGrande is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Taco Bell, at an estimated 14.0g 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.