Pizza Hut Gets a Makeover

(MoneyWatch)  Pizza Hut has gone all-natural. No artificial flavors, no artificial preservatives, no artificial colors. And no high-fructose corn syrup in its sauces. Apparently the all-natural pizza the company unveiled in certain markets last year was so successful that they decided to push the trend even further and see how many customers they could draw in if they gave themselves a healthier image. (And a more environmentally-friendly image -- their new boxes are made from 40 percent recycled materials.)

Of course, pizza is still pizza: full of cheese, calories, saturated fat. Not generally the healthiest choice -- which is maybe why Pizza Hut has been pushing its pasta line as well. Some locations even temporarily changed their name to "Pasta Hut" to promote the new dishes, and in Australia it looks like the company is opening some permanent Pasta Hut franchises.

Back in the U.S., a few restaurants are experimenting with the new name "The Hut." That name appears across the country on the new partially recycled boxes, but only Dallas and a few other markets are getting new signage. A spokesman said the company had been testing name variations for awhile now.

If they do eventually switch over though, they'll have to fight for the appropriate domain name.