Rubio’s Restaurants announced its plan to serve only all-natural chicken raised without antibiotics and all natural bacon with no nitrates or nitrites added, except those naturally occurring in natural ingredients, in entrées across the Rubio’s menu beginning in the spring. This new set of actions is part of Rubio’s ongoing “Made With a Mission” commitment: to serve coastal food that not only tastes great, but that its guests can feel great about eating.

Rubio’s has been committed to serving delicious coastal food made with quality ingredients for years, as demonstrated through the sustainable seafood found across its menu, daily handmade salsas, and guacamole featuring rich and creamy Hass Avocados and fresh produce that arrives throughout the week from California’s Salinas Valley, when possible. The Rubio’s supply chain team also regularly visits its suppliers and farms to ensure safety and that the best ingredients are being served.

“Our promise to source quality ingredients started when we opened the first Rubio’s restaurant in San Diego more than 30 years ago,” says Ralph Rubio, cofounder of Rubio’s. “It’s always been important to us that our guests feel good about what they are eating, and that starts with the ingredients we use. As guests’ expectations progress over time, and the demand for simple ingredients and transparency grows, we will continue to evolve our ingredients to stay ahead of the changing expectations.”

Rubio’s food quality comes from being selective, and that’s why the Rubio’s culinary team also keeps a list of ingredients that are never allowed in the Rubio’s kitchen. Artificial sweeteners, certified FD&C colors, added MSG, and partially hydrogenated oil are just a few of the many ingredients you will never find in Rubio’s food, with the exception of certain drinks and desserts.

As part of its “Made With a Mission” commitment, Rubio’s also intends to remove artificial flavors and caramel coloring from its food (excluding some drinks and desserts) and is exploring the introduction of sustainable, wild-caught Salmon, all-natural beef raised without antibiotics, and flour tortillas made with even simpler ingredients.