For all Taco Bell patrons...

[Msmith]

Taco Bell defends its mixture of seasoned meat

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Taco Bell officials on Tuesday rejected claims made in a lawsuit that the meat in their tacos, burritos and other products is not all beef. Taco Bell President Greg Creed said in a statement that the lawyers who filed the lawsuit got their facts wrong and that Taco Bell plans to take legal action against those making the allegations. He did not explain specifically what type of legal action Taco Bell might take.

"At Taco Bell, we buy our beef from the same trusted brands you find in the supermarket," Creed said. "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."

The class action lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in California by the Montgomery law firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles claims the Taco Bell meat mixture contains binders and fillers.

An attorney for the law firm, Dee Miles, said Taco Bell saves money by adding fillers because the beef is the most expensive part of their products.

"It's giving them a competitive edge. It's an economic edge" over other companies that sell Mexican-style food, Miles said.

Miles said he wasn't concerned with Taco Bell's threat of legal action.

"We stand on the absolute facts as stated in the complaint filed in the Federal Court in California," he said.

Creed said Taco Bell is proud of the quality of its beef and identifies the seasoning and spice ingredients on its website.

According to that Web site, ingredients used to season the Taco Bell meat include salt, chili pepper, onion powder, tomato powder, oats, soy lectithin, sugar, soybean oil, garlic powder, yeast extract, citric acid and cocoa powder.

The lawsuit filed 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.

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110125/...o_bell_lawsuit

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Pittsie

"We start with 100 percent USDA-inspected beef."

Inspected, yes. Given a passing grade, no.

No, all the beef anus is given a passing grade before it goes into your taco.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Pittsie

"We start with 100 percent USDA-inspected beef."

Inspected, yes. Given a passing grade, no.

Heh. They START with it, then they proceed to mix it with so much other stuff that it becomes only 36% beef.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

taco bell is ****in disgusting.

I think it tastes pretty good, whatever it it.

I actually find this whole thing rather amusing.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by loochy

Heh. They START with it, then they proceed to mix it with so much other stuff that it becomes only 36% beef.

I guess we know now what happened to the rat dog in the commercials.

[CHENZ A!]

It tastes the same as it ever has, and it's good when you're hungover. I eat there about once a month, and this news won't cause me to go any more or any less.
Posted via Mobile Device

[blaise]

36% good material and 64% junk just to fill it up?

Sounds like a Will Ferrell movie.

[orange]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

In order for it to qualify as meat, the USDA requires that it be at least 40% meat. That's a lot of filler to be eating, and it's not just Taco Bell. The lawsuit is alleging that Taco Bell "beef" is only 36% meat.

It's not 64% (or 60%) filler. Most of the extra weight is added water. Think about when you make taco filling at home - you start with a pound of beef and you add four cups of water - that's ca. 2.5 pounds of water, plus a bag of seasoning, maybe a couple of ounces.

Even that little blurb posted above is deceptive. "According to that Web site, ingredients used to season the Taco Bell meat include..." - stop right there. Why don't you just show the whole thing which is readily available?

Seasoned Ground Beef
Beef, Water, Seasoning [Isolated Oat Product, Salt, Chili Pepper, Onion Powder, Tomato Powder, Oats (Wheat), Soy Lecithin, Sugar, Spices, Maltodextrin, Soybean Oil (Anti-dusting Agent), Garlic Powder, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Silicon Dioxide, Natural Flavors, Yeast, Modified Corn Starch, Natural Smoke Flavor], Salt, Sodium Phosphates. CONTAINS SOYBEAN, WHEAT

http://www.tacobell.com/nutrition/ingredientstatement

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by blaise

36% good material and 64% junk just to fill it up?

Sounds like a Will Ferrell movie.

I believe you are being a tad generous.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by CHENZ A!

It tastes the same as it ever has, and it's good when you're hungover. I eat there about once a month, and this news won't cause me to go any more or any less.
Posted via Mobile Device

Taco Bell causes me to go plenty about 30 minutes later, if you know what I'm saying.

[CHENZ A!]

Originally Posted by loochy

Taco Bell causes me to go plenty about 30 minutes later, if you know what I'm saying.

Luckily I do not have that problem. My stomach is lined with leather.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

In order for it to qualify as meat, the USDA requires that it be at least 40% meat. That's a lot of filler to be eating, and it's not just Taco Bell. The lawsuit is alleging that Taco Bell "beef" is only 36% meat.

That isn't accurate. It is "taco filling" that is supposed to be 40% fresh meat, not meat in general.

TACO:
Product must contain at least 15 percent meat.

TACO FILLING:
Product must contain at least 40 percent fresh meat. The label must show true product
name, e.g., —Taco Filling with Meat,“ —Beef Taco Filling,“ or —Taco Meat Filling"

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/larc/...k_082005_3.pdf

I haven't been able to figure out if "taco filling" also includes the cheese and lettuce or is just the meat mixture. If it's just the meat mixture, the ingredients clearly show that there is water and seasonings added.

[Frosty]

BTW, if anyone cares, all of the USDA "meat" marketing terms requirements are here:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/larc/...k_082005_2.pdf

For example, "meat ravioli" only has to be more than 10% meat and "meat sauce" only has to be more than 6% meat.

[MOhillbilly]

Looch if youre ever in spfld. go to el taco on west kearney. get the 3 taco basket w/ hot sauce.

[RedNFeisty]

Originally Posted by loochy

Actually, the makeup of their "beef" is rather close to the makeup of dog food. So just go ahead and eat that Taco Bell...it's pretty much just seasoned dog food. I'm not joking.

Dog food has a little more flavor and more nutrients!

Originally Posted by orange

It's not 64% (or 60%) filler. Most of the extra weight is added water. Think about when you make taco filling at home - you start with a pound of beef and you add four cups of water - that's ca. 2.5 pounds of water, plus a bag of seasoning, maybe a couple of ounces.

Not sure how you make taco meat at home, but that isn't my recipe. No water added and I use my own spices. No need for the added junk that I'm sure is bad for the body. Truly homemade is always the best!!

Originally Posted by RedNFeisty

Once a year, a frequent Taco Bell, and that is only when they have their Bacon Club Chalupa's. Which are the greatest. Other then that, I would rather eat dog food.

There is more beef in dog food so be careful with that.