Mexican Pizza
TypePizza
Place of originUnited States

The Mexican Pizza, originally called the Pizzazz Pizza, is a menu item at the U.S.-based chain Taco Bell. It consists of two tortillas with a filling of seasoned beef and refried beans, topped with tomato sauce, three cheeses, and diced tomatoes. It is not found in Mexican cuisine and it does not particularly resemble pizza.[1]

History

The item was introduced in 1985 as the Pizzazz Pizza, when its recipe also included olives and green onions. It was renamed "Mexican Pizza" in 1988. The owners of a Cleveland-area pizzeria had sued Taco Bell's then-owner PepsiCo, claiming trademark infringement, in 1985, although Taco Bell did not mention the lawsuit as being related to the renaming.[2]

Because the beef could be substituted with beans, making the Mexican Pizza suitable for vegetarians, the item became popular among South Asian Americans.[3] On November 5, 2020, Taco Bell removed the Mexican Pizza from its menu, saying that its paperboard packaging had a significant environmental impact.[2] In response, Krish Jagirdar, a vegetarian Indian American, started a change.org petition for Taco Bell to reinstate the Mexican Pizza. The petition attracted more than 170,000 signatures.[1]

Taco Bell announced on April 18, 2022, that it would reintroduce the Mexican Pizza on May 19. Doja Cat, who had partnered with the company on an advertising campaign, told the audience during her performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 17, "I brought back the Mexican Pizza, by the way," in the middle of a song.[2] Taco Bell thanked Jagirdar personally for his petition.[1] Due to unforeseen demand, Taco Bell experienced supply shortages after it reintroduced the Mexican Pizza. The company reported that one customer bought 180 pizzas in one order.[4]

On August 2, 2022, Taco Bell announced that the Mexican Pizza would return to menus permanently on September 15. The company denied that the sudden disappearance of the item following its May 2022 launch was a stunt, saying that demand was seven times higher than when it was previously available.[5]

Musical

Taco Bell commissioned Mexican Pizza: The Musical, which it had intended to premiere on TikTok on May 26, 2022, as a promotional tie-in for the item's reintroduction. Taco Bell said in a press release that the musical is a "satirical musical about the 'harrowing' story of those who fought to bring back the Mexican Pizza." Dolly Parton, Doja Cat, and TikToker Victor Kunda appeared in the 15-minute production. The musical was written by Hannah Friedman, with music by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. Taco Bell announced on May 26 that the release of its musical would be delayed.[6] The musical streamed on TikTok on September 15, 2022.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Marquez Janse, Alejandra; Levitt, Michael (April 21, 2022). "Taco Bell is bringing back the Mexican pizza — and South Asians are rejoicing". NPR. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Bartiromo, Michael (April 24, 2022). "Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza had a different name in 1985: Do you remember it?". Queen City News. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  3. ↑ Parikh, Rima (June 29, 2020). "For a South Asian American, Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza means fast food freedom". The Takeout. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  4. ↑ Valinsky, Jordan (May 31, 2022). "Taco Bell is running out of Mexican Pizza". CNN. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  5. ↑ Valinsky, Jordan (August 2, 2022). "Taco Bell is bringing back Mexican Pizza". CNN. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  6. ↑ Callahan, Chrissy (May 9, 2022). "Taco Bell's 'Mexican Pizza: The Musical' just got postponed". NBC News TODAY. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ Wellen, Brianna. "Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza Is Back in the Works—and So Is Its TikTok Musical", TheTakeOut.com, September 1, 2022; and Pomranz, Mike. "Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza Musical Will Finally Debut the Same Day the Beloved Menu Item Makes Its Return", Food & Wine, September 1, 2022
  8. ↑ Wellen, Brianna (September 16, 2022). "Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza: The Musical Is Better Than You Think". The Takeout. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
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