IRVINE, Calif. – Taco Bell, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, announced new 2019 commitments on Jan. 10 including its first formalized vegetarian menu.

The quick-service restaurant will roll out new vegetarian items and identify the current menu items that are vegetarian.

“We decided to scratch the idea of New Year’s resolutions and instead make New Year’s commitments,” said Julie Masino, president of North America at Taco Bell. “From simplifying our ingredients while improving food quality, to creating more new jobs, to improving our recycling efforts, these are just some of our promises to keep doing even better and being even better, and they are promises that we know we will keep.”

The company also said that it removed all artificial colors and flavors from its core menu and continues to remove preservatives and other additives from its food. Taco Bell also plans to reduce sodium from its products by 25 percent by 2025.

The QSR is a member of the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRB), a network of beef experts from the supply chain, academia and research, environmental and animal welfare organizations, and veterinarians all working together to develop the supply chain for US-grown, sustainable beef.

Taco Bell recently put recyclable cold cups and lids in all of its 7,000 US restaurants, which account for more than 95 percent of its drinks sold, according to the company. They plan on having 100 percent recyclable cups by 2021.

By 2022, the company also still plans to create 100,000 new jobs in the USA and continuing to support Taco Bell employees with training and education programs. This commitment was first made in 2017.