Uh-oh... Taco Bell lawsuit: Where's the beef?

[Ember]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2011%2F01%2F24%2Ffinancial%2Ff161842S08.DTL&tsp=1

Lawsuit to Taco Bell: Where's the beef?

Monday, January 24, 2011
(01-24) 16:58 PST Montgomery, Ala. (AP) --

An Alabama law firm claims in a lawsuit that Taco Bell is using false advertising when it refers to using "seasoned ground beef" or "seasoned beef" in its products.

The meat mixture sold by Taco Bell restaurants contains binders and extenders and does not meet the minimum requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be labeled as "beef," according to the legal complaint.

The class-action lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in the Central District of California by the Montgomery law firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles.

Attorney Dee Miles said attorneys had Taco Bell's "meat mixture" tested and found it contained less that 35 percent beef.

The lawsuit on behalf of Taco Bell customer and California resident Amanda Obney does not seek monetary damages, but asks the court to order Taco Bell to be honest in its advertising.

"We are asking that they stop saying that they are selling beef," Miles said.

Irvine, Calif.-based Taco Bell spokesman Rob Poetsch (PAYCH) said the company denies that its advertising is misleading.

"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," Poetsch said. He said the company would "vigorously defend the suit."

The lawsuit says that Taco Bell's "seasoned beef" contains other ingredients, including water, wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent and modified corn starch.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I can't say I'm surprised

 

[golfgal]

Does anyone really think that it is "real" meat-all of it anyway? It's fast food, it isn't good food.

 

[Reddy]

hmmm what part of "seasoned" did they not know about?? When I saw this I thought they were adding goat, kangroo or someother animal - those seem to be in the seasoned for most things with seasoned in the title

 

[ChrisFL]

Hey, lets all at least praise the fact that the plaintiff isn't looking for any compensation

 

[Imzadi]

"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," Poetsch said. He said the company would "vigorously defend the suit."

"Mexican inspired food"

Shouldn't people have realized then that there isn't any beef?

Maybe the description should read seasoned "beef."

 

[ChrisFL]

"Mexican inspired food"

Shouldn't people have realized then that there isn't any beef?

Maybe the description should read seasoned "beef."

Why not "beef inspired food"?

 

[Handbag Lady]

(I'm sticking my fingers in my ears!)


LA-LA-LA-LA-Laaaaaa-LA-LA-LA-LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!!!!



I don't want to know what is in my beloved Taco Bell food.

 

[Imzadi]

(I'm sticking my fingers in my ears!)


LA-LA-LA-LA-Laaaaaa-LA-LA-LA-LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!!!!


I don't want to know what is in my beloved Taco Bell food.

Here have a smiley:

 

[NHdisneylover]

I guess I will be the odd one out. I can't see why this is worth a lawsuit (and I would think it is RIDICULOUS if the person wanted some sort of monetary compensation), but I do think Taco Bell should not be allowed to label something as beef, which only contains 35% beef.

I cna't stand their food and I certainly know it is terrible for you and full of fat anf additives and a million things I don't want to put in my body. However, I think a consumer can reasonably expect something labled as "seasoned beef" to contain at least 51% beef (ie, a majority of the prodcut is beef).

hmmm what part of "seasoned" did they not know about?? When I saw this I thought they were adding goat, kangroo or someother animal - those seem to be in the seasoned for most things with seasoned in the title

Generally "seasoned" means herbs, spices, and in the case of fast food artificial flavuors ahve been added to the base ingedient. None the less, the base ingredient is still generally the majority of what makes up the item. I cannot think of anyhtign i have EVER cooekd that is 65% seasonings and only 35% meat.

 

[JoShan1719]

There's no beef in Taco Bell's tacos?!

 

[bicker]

I guess I will be the odd one out. I can't see why this is worth a lawsuit (and I would think it is RIDICULOUS if the person wanted some sort of monetary compensation), but I do think Taco Bell should not be allowed to label something as beef, which only contains 35% beef.

I think the point is that they're not. They're saying that there is beef in their product, not that their product is beef. The lawsuit is trying to play with words to make it seem like the eatery is doing something wrong.

35% beef is still beef.

(And is 35% too much beef as far as I'm concerned, but that's irrelevant.)

None the less, the base ingredient is still generally the majority of what makes up the item.

That is simply not necessarily true. Some people might like it to be that way, but there is no requirement nor any sound basis for assuming that anything provided by anyone always has one ingredient that makes up >50% of the whole, unless there is an explicit promise to that effect. Ingredient lists, if they are indeed ingredient lists in Nutritional Facts, must show ingredients in order of prevalence, but again the first ingredient need not represent >50%.

 

[HOGFAN]

I thought I read somewhere(maybe here) from someone that worked at TB that their beef is the lowest grade available.

 

[diznygirl]

Generally "seasoned" means herbs, spices, and in the case of fast food artificial flavuors ahve been added to the base ingedient. None the less, the base ingredient is still generally the majority of what makes up the item. I cannot think of anyhtign i have EVER cooekd that is 65% seasonings and only 35% meat.

I know - I'm trying to imagine cooking hamburger meat and adding things to it until more than half of it is no longer hamburger meat. I suppose I could take a box of quaker oats and add a spoonful of meat and some taco seasoning. That's pretty much what it sounds like Taco Bell is doing.

The funny thing is - I've always like the taste of their beef tacos!

 

[DWGal210]

Note to self - no more Taco Bell. I've been eating out less & cooking more at home - stories like this validate that choice for me. Ewwwww.....

 

[bicker]

I know - I'm trying to imagine cooking hamburger meat and adding things to it until more than half of it is no longer hamburger meat.

Beef is rendered to an unfavorable texture by certain cooking methods. One of the most tried-and-true means of improving the texture of beef is adding cereal fillers. One of my earliest memories was my grandmother making meat loaf, from beef and lots of stale bread. Anyone who has ever had a 100% beef meat loaf can attest to how bread improves meat loaf.

Note to self - no more Taco Bell.

Do more research and you'll find good reason to avoid McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and all the rest, as well.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Love Taco Bell, but only eat it a few times/year. This will only bother me if they force Taco Bell to change their meat mixture into something that tastes different.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...Do more research and you'll find good reason to avoid McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and all the rest, as well.

Do enough research and you might give up eating altogether.

 

[minniebeth]

Do more research and you'll find good reason to avoid McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and all the rest, as well.

Aww shucks, Bicker...
We've avoided Taco Bell for years, but now I need the
La-La-La smilie now to respond, lol!

 

[Nette]

I thought I read somewhere(maybe here) from someone that worked at TB that their beef is the lowest grade available.

In college, one of my friends worked for a meat packing plant that sold to Taco Bell. He told me that the "meat" they used was the little bits that stuck to the joints and cartilage of the animal.