Taco Bell Nachos Tacos 4-8-092 originally uploaded by Steven Depolo
According to this article (via The Consumerist), Taco Bell is being sued by a law firm in Alabama over what they claim is Taco Bell’s unlawful use of the term, “ground beef,” as defined by the USDA.
The article notes that the lawsuit claims Taco Bell should not be permitted to use the term, “ground beef,” to describe their taco filling and instead should be required to inform its customers that it uses, “taco meat filling,” something which the boxes delivered to Taco Bell stores are noted as being being that the “meat” contains mostly, “‘extenders’ and other non-meat substances.”
From the article:
What are these substances? The document lists water, “Isolated Oat Product,” wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent, autolyzed yeast extract, modified corn starch and sodium phosphate as well as beef and seasonings.
The USDA’s definition of ground beef states:
What’s the difference between “hamburger” and “ground beef”?
Beef fat may be added to “hamburger,” but not “ground beef.” A maximum of 30% fat is allowed in either hamburger or ground beef. Both hamburger and ground beef can have seasonings, but no water, phosphates, extenders, or binders added. The labeling of meat food products must comply with the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and the meat inspection regulations and labeling policies.
Most states and cities set standards for store-packaged ground beef which, by law, cannot be less than Federal standards. If products in retail stores were found to contain more than 30% fat, they would be considered “misbranded” under Federal law.
It’s pretty clear why the Taco Bell diet was working so very well for some–it’s less meat and more extenders. Fillers full of fiber (which I assume oat product, wheat oats, etc all contain) is a great way for people to lose weight. Feel full and have digestion slow down. Perfect!
Based on the USDA’s quoted definition, the claims made in the Alabama lawsuit, and your own experiences with Taco Bell, do you believe that Taco Bell has ‘misbranded’ their products as containing ground beef? Do you think that Taco Bell will do what McDonald’s did when Wendy’s began advertising its all-white meat chicken nuggets and change the type of “meat” they are using or will they just change the wording used? Will this stop you from eating Taco Bell? Is this the reason why Taco Bell’s diet was working for some? Whatever you have to say about the lawsuit against Taco Bell for its “ground beef” go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear what you have to say.
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January 25th, 2011 at 8:53 am
This is a little off-topic, but Taco Bell’s menu always amazes me. It’s a pretty lengthy menu for a fast-food joint, but there’s only a total of about 8 ingredients in everything. No matter what you order, it’s always just the same 8 ingredients slapped together in a different format. It’s incredible.
January 25th, 2011 at 9:12 am
There are just some things people don’t need to know. :)
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More seriously, I think what needs to be important is not stated, because I think there are but two things.
1. Does it taste good?
2. What is the nutrition content?
If 1 and 2 are acceptable to you, than go for it. If one is yes and 2 is “who cares”, same answer.
I am not speaking up for Taco Bell, but if a place can fill me up for lunch for less than two dollars (2 hard shell fresco tacos and a glass of water) and get me less than 300 calories as they advertise, than I think I need to not assume I am getting prime grade sirloin ground beef, or anything close. Anyone that assumed it was 100% ground beef probably chose not to think that one through (and if it was 100% ground beef, don’t you think that would be in their signage somewhere?)
In my case, the answer to number one is “not really” and number two “just good enough because I obviously have limited options and am in a fucking hurry.”
January 25th, 2011 at 9:58 am
I’ve always been under the impression that Taco Bell’s “beef taco filling” was some kind of TVP (textured vegetable protein) product. I can’t say I’m surprised at the make-up of it.
January 25th, 2011 at 10:10 am
Deceptive and unfair advertising is against the law. I am going to side with the law firm on this one.
January 25th, 2011 at 10:33 am
Yeah, I suppose I’d side with the law too. (sigh)
That said, you’d have to be one of the world’s biggest fucking idiots to think they’re using anything remotely resembling decent ingredients there. Personally, I’ve never heard anyone say, “sure, the price is good but really it’s all about that great, delicious beef!!!”
Here’s the definitive memo, spoken in terms even the least educated person can understand: If you go to Taco Bell, White Castle, Jack In The Box, or anywhere else similar, you are shoving lips and assholes into your mouth.
But, yeah, it does taste good sometimes.
On a side note, wouldn’t it be freaking spectacular for a business or fast food joint to put giant neon signs in their window that say, “100% ground beef mixed with anti-dusting agents, soy lecithin and various scientifically extracted goo! But it’s what you crave!!”
January 25th, 2011 at 11:05 am
Hmm. They left off; rat hair, spit, horse meat, and bug parts…
My kid eats there almost every day. We’ve seen a 46% decrease in his productivity and a 34% decrease in intellectual capacity since he started his “all Gordita” diet.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:38 am
mmmm gorditas
January 25th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Nobody is going to stop eating at Taco Bell because of this. Everybody already knows the guy in the back is just taking a dump in a taco shell, sprinkling some cheese and sour cream on it and handing it to you. What’s in that dump is pretty irrelevant to the people eating it.
January 25th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Due to allergies and any other possible food related disease/sensitivity, all companies should be honest with their ingredients. Accurate information should be posted and all employees should be knowledgable.
January 25th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
What’s next…a “McRib” isn’t really ribs???
January 25th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
MSPD,
We all know your penchant for Rotten Ronnies. We’re not going to start some overinflated flame-war here with you arguing that the scientific/peer-reviewed studies showing that McDonald’s is bad for you is just junk science. Ok?
January 25th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
What did you expect for 89 cents!!!
Lefty’s argument seems like an oxymoron. He doesn’t care what the ingredients are but he’s ordering the marketed “healthy” option????
January 25th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
From the linked article: The USDA defines “Taco Meat Filling” as 40% beef so, technically, at 36% beef, Taco Bell falls short of “Taco Meat Filling” as well.
January 25th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Anyone dumb enough to eat it before is dumb enough to continue eating it regardless of what is publicized about it.
January 25th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
I think I side with the lawsuit on principle in this case but I agree with MSPD and many others about the whole “caveat emptor” aspect to this. That being said, I do wonder what some of their other menu items are made of. The fresco menu stuff actually looks like food and tastes okay. The price on those thing is still quite cheap too.
January 25th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Off topic, but the sanitation in TB is questionable. My son spent a week bumming it on a Mexican beach, but he didn’t get sick until he ate at a Taco Bell back home. And I worked with somebody today who ate at one yesterday afternoon and was sick all night.
January 25th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Hence the nicknames “Toxic Smell” and “Taco Hell”.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
We don’t go to Taco Bell, and this just confirmed why. Bill, do you go there? We’re thinking you avoid the franchise places.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
I’ve been there once or twice in last five years.
January 26th, 2011 at 11:53 am
That picture of actual Taco Bell tacos is actually appetizing. I am guessing it must be a picture of a taco that was prepared back on 4-8-92 and just photographed recently? Maybe their product was better back in 1992. I know the prices were higher back in that time period than they are today.
I just might grab Zantigo for lunch. They use real beef.
January 27th, 2011 at 8:30 am
I love Taco Bell and for the price, I think most of us assumed it was not the highest quality.
January 27th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Zantigo. OMG.
January 27th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
I used to eat at Zantigo often only because they provided my place of employment a stack of free taco coupons. I never thought it was really any better than Taco Bell but it was free ;-)
January 27th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
I am a sucker for the Green Chili Burrito with cheese. I get my fix about once a month, either at the Bloomington one or the one in Fridley. Taco Bell has nothing resembling this product on their menu, fake beef or not.
January 28th, 2011 at 11:16 am
On the other side of the Mexican cusine, I am wondering if anyone has been to La Chaya Bistro in Minneapolis?
I am going there tonight, I guess.
January 29th, 2011 at 11:06 am
I am just going to say that La Chaya Bistro last night was shockingly excellent. I went there with no pretention about what it was like and I feel like I had one of the best meals I have ever eaten. This was my “Corner Table”. Everything served came with a different type a chili to add to the flavor, including the chipolte molten lava cake for dessert. Like no place I have been that I can think of.
Dinner was about $150 inc. tax and tip for two, so know that. If you only have 150 dollars to spend on dining out for 2011, go here once.
February 10th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Taco Bell is offering you a free taco coupon if you “like” them on Facebook: http://blogs.citypages.com/food/2011/02/taco_bell_offer.php
Oh boy! That’s totally going to change my mind about their crappy product!