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Could It Be That Taco Bell Is Doing Away With Its Beloved Potatoes?

Plus, viral mask freakout lady continues to freak out, and more news to start your day

Left: cheesy potato burrito. Right: chips and guacamole.
Potato dishes and chips & guac are among the items rumored to disappear from Taco Bell’s menu next month.
Photos: Taco Bell

I wish I could tell you whether or not Taco Bell is getting rid of potatoes, but they won’t answer me*!!!

Update: Taco Bell has confirmed the menu changes. Click here for an updated post with more information.

For anyone plugged into the Taco Bell rumor mill, the last few days have been pure chaos as fans contend with the prospect of losing some of their favorite menu items — including, but not limited to, potato dishes, which are objectively the best thing you can order at Taco Bell.

The rumors began nearly a week ago, with a post on the subreddit r/LivingMas (the subreddit for “all things Taco Bell”). A user with the flair “verified employee” wrote that the fast-food chain will be suspending “all potato items,” Quesaritos, Loaded Grillers, Triple Layer Nachos, Nachos Supreme, Beefy Frito Burritos, and other menu items starting in mid-August. The same user provided an update a few days later, noting some changes and new information:

- Quesaritos are staying, however, ONLY as a web/mobile app exclusive. Stores will not be able to sell them as the key will be removed.

- Potato bites are staying, but for BREAKFAST ONLY.

- Nacho Supreme is confirmed to be leaving.

- Added to the list of items leaving: Grilled Steak Taco, Chips & Guac, and Chips & Pico.

- AM Sausage Crunchwrap will now be built with crumbled sausage. The sausage patty is deleted.

Reactions to these rumored menu changes have been passionate, to say the least:

Taco Bell itself remains mum on whether or not it’s cutting these specific menu items, but confirmed to Business Insider and Thrillist that the chain is “in the process of evolving our menu to simplify operations and make our team member and customer experiences easier.” Eater’s request for comment has gone unanswered...

*Update: At 11:58 a.m. on July 16, 2020, a Taco Bell representative provided the following statement to Eater: “We are in the process of evolving our menu to simplify operations and make our team member and customer experiences easier.”

And in other news…

  • Coffee consumption is down during the pandemic, thanks to work-from-home and social distancing. [Bloomberg]
  • Country Time, the lemonade brand owned by Kraft Heinz, has launched a marketing campaign that sends $100 stimulus checks to kids who had to close their lemonade stands because of the pandemic. [Marketing Dive]
  • A woman in San Diego tried to publicly shame a Starbucks employee for declining to serve her because she wasn’t wearing a face mask, which is mandatory in the county. A GoFundMe campaign raised more than $100,000 for the barista. Now the woman who refused to wear a mask is considering suing to get half of the GoFundMe funds, saying she was the one who was “discriminated against.” [Insider]
  • The president joins his daughter in seemingly endorsing Goya products and probably violating ethical standards for federal employees:

All AM Intel Coverage [E]