Taco Bell Lawsuit Prompts Search for the Best Mexican Fast Food

At the risk of saying what everyone’s thinking, “Where’s the beef Taco Bell?” At Decisive Latino, we’re going to help you find it.

A suit filed last week by the Alabama law firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles against the YUM-brands chain that owns Taco Bell, alleges that the company's advertising is misleading and that claims of using "seasoned ground beef" or "seasoned beef" in its food products are false. The lawsuit charges that the meat mixture contains binders and extenders, and does not meet the minimum requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be labeled as "beef.”

Attorney Dee Miles said the meat mixture contained just 35 percent beef, with the remaining 65 percent containing water, wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent, and modified corn starch.

The suit was filed on behalf of Taco Bell customer and California resident Amanda Obney, who is not seeking monetary damages, but instead wants a 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.

A statement from Taco Bell president and Chief Concept Officer Greg Creed states:

"The lawsuit is bogus and filled with completely inaccurate facts. Our beef is 100 percent USDA inspected, just like the quality beef you would buy in a supermarket and prepare in your home. It then is slow-cooked and simmered with proprietary seasonings and spices to provide Taco Bell's signature taste and texture. Our seasoned beef recipe contains 88 percent quality USDA-inspected beef and 12 percent seasonings, spices, water and other ingredients that provide taste, texture and moisture. The lawyers got their facts wrong. We take this attack on our quality very seriously and plan to take legal action against them for making false statements about our products. There is no basis in fact or reality for this suit and we will vigorously defend the quality of our products from frivolous and misleading claims such as this.

“Our seasoned beef contains no ‘extenders’ to add volume, as some might use. For more information about our ingredients go to http://www.tacobell.com."

The focus on Taco Bell prompts us at Decisive Latino to look at Mexican-style fast food and search for the best tasting and most nutritional offerings we can find. Taco Bell tacos will serve as the base for our rankings against which others will be judged. Keep checking this site for updates on the latest taco taste test and feel free to offer your choice for tasty tacos in your area.