16 Identity Crisis Driven Foods to Try or Avoid

Naked Crispy Chicken Taco: Colonel Bell’s Original Recipe

In another case of identity crisis in the fast food encroachment arena, we have the Naked Crispy Chicken Taco. Taco Bell not only created a fried chicken taco shell, but it’s rumored that its success is enough to merit a nationwide rollout. While it’s not a completely unheard of idea to use fried chicken as the bun (I’m looking at you, KFC Double Down), a taco shell sounds downright weird. I was pretty sure that this sort of thing would kill off any reputation Taco Bell was building as a healthier choice out of fast food chains.

Apparently I’m wrong. Buzzfeed took a look at how the fried chicken shell is made and interviewed Kat Garcia, Taco Bell’s Senior Manager of Marketing, whose choice quote says a lot about the American fast food market:

"“We were getting feedback like, ‘It’s so healthy. It’s so fresh.’ That really surprised us because it’s fried chicken.”"

I’m pretty sure that Inigo Montoya would definitely say to those people “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” At least Taco Bell Chief Marketing Officer Marisa Thalberg promised that it would not be marketed as a health food.

I feel afraid for my health, but I’m also tempted because it’s fried chicken! Could fried chicken really be a good taco shell? I think I’m willing to give it a go if they become available here.

Next: Cappuccino Lay's: NO.