MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - What's in a name? That's the question at the heart of a class action lawsuit Montgomery, Alabama law firm Beasley Allen filed targeting fast food giant Taco Bell. The lawsuit claims the company uses "false advertising" on its menu and in its advertisements.
"The complaint alleges that what Taco Bell calls "beef" doesn't meet the minimum requirements set by the USDA to be called "beef" or "seasoned ground beef" or anything of the kind.
"Rather than beef, these food items are actually made with a substance known as "taco meat filling," according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit states that Taco Bell should refer to its product as "taco meat filling" because it contains mostly "extenders" and other non-meat substances.
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 defines "beef" as "flesh of cattle."
The definition as read in the lawsuit states "Ground beef" "shall consist of chopped fresh and/or frozen beef with or without seasoning and without the addition of beef fat as such, shall not contain more than 30 percent fat, and shall not contain added water, phosphates, binders, or extenders."
The USDA policy book requires food labeled as "taco filling" to contain "at least 40 percent fresh meat," and the label must show the true product name.
In containers shipped to Taco Bell stores, not seen by consumers, the label reads: "Taco Meat Filling."
Beasley Allen law firm adds that what Taco Bell is marketing as beef only contains 36% meat.
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=13885025
When is beef not beef? When it's Taco Bell.
Moderators: The People's DJ, David Paleg
-
CoolBreeze
- Member
- Posts: 1874
- Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2005 10:30 am
When is beef not beef? When it's Taco Bell.
"I know I've got a lot against me: I'm White, I'm Protestant, I'm hard working. Don't you have an Amendment to protect me"? Archie Bunker
-
Bar Rat
- Member
- Posts: 298
- Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2002 8:16 pm
-
Big Media
- Member
- Posts: 2286
- Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2005 12:46 pm
- Location: Cruising I-64
Re: When is beef not beef? When it's Taco Bell.
I don't give a damn what they call it. It's delicious. 
-
CoolBreeze
- Member
- Posts: 1874
- Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2005 10:30 am
Re: When is beef not beef? When it's Taco Bell.
110 million Mexicans would disagree. 
"I know I've got a lot against me: I'm White, I'm Protestant, I'm hard working. Don't you have an Amendment to protect me"? Archie Bunker
-
Bob Campbell
- Member
- Posts: 2232
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:13 pm
- Location: Blue Heaven
Re: When is beef not beef? When it's Taco Bell.
In a related development, a man died in New York city yesterday after falling into a ...wait for it...tortilla mixer.
So at least there's some real meat in there now.
So at least there's some real meat in there now.
-
The Interpreter
- Member
- Posts: 738
- Joined: Sat Dec 15, 2001 9:58 am