Thread: Taco bell is getting sued because its "meat" is mostly not meat

Attorneys question whether what Taco Bell calls ‘beef’ is actually beef
By Brett Michael Dykes

The late-night crowd knows all too well the allure of Taco Bell's piping-hot creations. But is it really ground beef they're putting in that beef meximelt?

That's the question at the heart of a lawsuit filed recently by the Montgomery, Alabama-based law firm Beasley Allen.

The standard for what constitutes meat as defined by the USDA is pretty straightforward: "flesh of animals." In the "Food Facts" section of its website, Taco Bell says the following about its beef: "Our taco meat is made from USDA-inspected beef and is subjected to quality check points. It tastes great because it's simmered in 12 authentic seasonings and spices and is never frozen. Moreover, our taco meat is leaner than what you'll find in a restaurant-cooked hamburger because of the unique way that we prepare our taco meat and remove fat." But Beasley Allen contends that the company's claims are untrue.

"Rather than beef, these food items are actually made with a substance known as 'taco meat filling,' " the lawsuit says. The firm contends that that Taco Bell shouldn't market the taco meat filling in question as beef because their testing shows that it only contains 36 percent ground beef. If that's true, Taco Bell's meat filling product would fall below the already generous USDA standard for it to qualify as meat -- the present standard demands it consist of at least 40 percent meat. This inspired Gizmodo's Jesus Diaz to crack, "Perhaps they should call it 'Almost Taco Meat Filling.'"

The remainder of the Taco Bell's meat filling product consists of "extenders" like water, "Isolated Oat Product," wheat oats, maltodrextrin, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent, autolyzed yeast extract, modified corn starch, sodium phosphate and silicon dioxide.

Taco Bell actually addresses its use if silicon dioxide in the "Food Facts" section of its website under the question, "I heard a rumor that there's sand in your taco meat?" It then goes on to explain that silicone dioxide is "a safe, common food ingredient" that's "primarily used in food to prevent ingredients from sticking together."

In response, Taco Bell has issued a statement insisting that the suit is unfounded: "Taco Bell prides itself on serving high quality Mexican inspired food with great value. We're happy that the millions of customers we serve every week agree. We deny our advertising is misleading in any way and we intend to vigorously defend the suit."

In any event, the lawsuit's appetite-squelching accusations are likely to provide plenty of unadulterated fodder for late night comedians. "Late Show with David Letterman" head writer Eric Stangel was already making Taco Bell jokes on his Twitter page this morning, cracking that because of the lawsuit we're all finally "about to find out where the Taco Bell Chihuahua went."

UPDATE: Taco Bell President and Chief Concept Officer Greg Creed contacted The Lookout with a strongly worded amended corporate response to the lawsuit:

At Taco Bell, we buy our beef from the same trusted brands you find in the supermarket, like Tyson Foods. We start with 100 percent USDA-inspected beef. Then we simmer it in our proprietary blend of seasonings and spices to give our seasoned beef its signature Taco Bell taste and texture. We are proud of the quality of our beef and identify all the seasoning and spice ingredients on our website. Unfortunately, the lawyers in this case elected to sue first and ask questions later -- and got their "facts" absolutely wrong. We plan to take legal action for the false statements being made about our food."

Thank goodness I never eat their beef. I do love a spicy bean burrito. Who the hell knows what is on that??? Hopefully the 1 I have every 6 months won't kill me.

Originally Posted by Gena Marie

Thank goodness I never eat their beef.

I don't think anyone has every eaten their beef.

Originally Posted by DOMS

I don't think anyone has every eaten their beef.

Great point

i love taco bell. always have, always will.

Can honestly say I have never been in one of thier stores. I like mexican food, but for some reason that place turned me off from when they opened.

I used to eat the chicken chalupas in college...never thought the beef was appetizing.

Then again, in hindsight, the chicken is pretty effing nasty now too, lol

I have not eaten their in over a year. It's the risk you take with any fast food joint, and even some of the crap you get from the grocery store.

I remember when the grilled stuffed burrito actually was stuffed. Now there is hardly anything to it at all. They used to be massive.

Originally Posted by ectomorph141

I remember when the grilled stuffed burrito actually was stuffed. Now there is hardly anything to it at all. They used to be massive.

Remeber that lil "yo quiro taco bell" chihuahua ? That Dog would actually be closer to beef than the shit they serve.

Thats why I usually ask for steak or chicken. It is very rare I ever get the "beef".

Anti dusting agent?

My vegetarian GF buys this shit called Smart Ground(veggie protein crumbles) that is mostly soy, I swear it tastes just like Taco Bells "beef"....

Originally Posted by maniclion

My vegetarian GF buys this shit called Smart Ground(veggie protein crumbles) that is mostly soy, I swear it tastes just like Taco Bells "beef"....

Mmm, sounds delicious!

this changes my purchasing habits not at all. I eat at fast food for quantity, not quality

eh who cares? a little kangaroo meat and sand never hurt anyone. I ate a hot dog out of a cart on the streets of chicago, lord knows what the fuck was in that but it was good.

cheesy gordita crunch is good stuff.

Originally Posted by IronAddict

Remeber that lil "yo quiro taco bell" chihuahua ? That Dog would actually be closer to beef than the shit they serve.

Our Chihuahua looks like the Taco Bell dog. "I want some Taco Bell".

I've eaten dog, cat, horse, snail, lizard, snake, water buffalo, and every other weird ass meat out there. whatever they put in those taco bell burritos is fine with me

Sounds delicious.

I remember when I was on a 6 month deployment to the Armpit of the world I craved the shit out of a Burrito Supreme and a double decker, but this was back when they put nicotine in the meat (or so the rumors suggested)

Memoorieees, like the corners of my mind... Isn't that what the beyotch sang.

The armpit of the world, we're invested in that part of the world, because of, yeah, that Obamer feller!....

Originally Posted by IronAddict

Memoorieees, like the corners of my mind... Isn't that what the beyotch sang.

The armpit of the world, we're invested in that part of the world, because of, yeah, that Obamer feller!....

southeast asia?

I noticed this many, many years ago the few times I ever ate there. the food cools down so rapidly, there can't possible be that much beef in their product.

Originally Posted by maniclion

I remember when I was on a 6 month deployment to the Armpit of the world I craved the shit out of a Burrito Supreme and a double decker, but this was back when they put nicotine in the meat (or so the rumors suggested)

Southwest asia , good goats milk

Originally Posted by Black Rider

Anti dusting agent?

and sand... i'm sure it's not much sand but still what the fuck

Originally Posted by bio-chem

I've eaten dog, cat, horse, snail, lizard, snake, water buffalo, and every other weird ass meat out there. whatever they put in those taco bell burritos is fine with me

And probably everyone else who eats at Taco Bell, McDonald's, Burger King, Jack in the box, and every other fast food chain out there.

Originally Posted by bio-chem

I've eaten dog, cat, horse, snail, lizard, snake, water buffalo, and every other weird ass meat out there. whatever they put in those taco bell burritos is fine with me

so how did that taste??