In America, guacamole’s got little to do with avocado and seasoned beef’s mostly not meat. The latest fast food kerfluffle making headlines today is the shocking discovery that Taco Bell’s “seasoned ground beef” or “seasoned beef” is only 35 percent meat! (via Grist)
What’s the other 65 percent of Taco Bell’s “beef”? ABC reports that according to the lawsuit, the other ingredients include “water, wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent and modified corn starch.” Yummy.
The unmeaty food news comes thanks to a class-action lawsuit filed by a law firm called Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles in Montgomery, Ala. The suit isn’t asking for money — just a stop to the false advertising. Taco Bell will “vigorously defend” the honor of its “beef.”
The whole debacle makes The Onion’s hilarious “news” segment last year — Taco Bell’s New Green Menu Takes No Ingredients From Nature — even funnier and strangely prescient. Here it is, for foodies who missed it.
Taco Bell’s New Green Menu Takes No Ingredients From Nature
Photo by Eric Marcus
pure awesomeness
Comment by jeannie — January 25, 2011 @ 3:44 pm
Obviously, that a transparency problem and a possible health problem for people who have trouble with wheat or any of those other ingredient. On the other hand, wheat and oats are probably better for most people’s health, and better for the environment than beef.
Comment by Anonymous — January 25, 2011 @ 6:49 pm
I don’t find this story that surprising. They are trying to cut costs to increase their profits. They shouldn’t be doing this when they are advertising seasoned beef. It should be interesting to see how Taco Bell responds to the lawsuit.
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Comment by Florida Child Support — January 25, 2011 @ 10:49 pm
I think the meal is just right since it contains a lot of fiber. It is simply organic. This is what most of us should take into our body to keep ourselves healthy.
Comment by LoveGreenOrganic — January 26, 2011 @ 4:17 am
Really… how can anyone really surprised by this news. should we laugh at the allegation or should we cry because nearly every franchise fast food restaurant does not use the words “All Beef”.
The real crime is that extenders are common place and an acceptable practice in order to offer a meal for $2.00.
Comment by Jerry G — January 26, 2011 @ 7:06 am
Well, Taco Bell’s now fighting back, saying that their “meat” is 88 percent beef. The real percentage has yet to be revealed/decided — but I like how the whole debacle is drawing attention to the strange ingredients used in Taco Bell’s edible food-like products.
Comment by Siel — January 29, 2011 @ 2:26 pm