Where's The Beef? Taco Bell Giant Deals With Two Class Action Suits

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 27 Jan 2011 - 11:00 PDT


A woman who claims the amount of beef in Taco Bell menu products falls short of what is advertised has filed a federal lawsuit against the fast-food giant. Aside, a class-action lawsuit is currently pending in California challenging barriers at corporate-owned Taco Bell restaurants in that state.

The Montgomery, Alabama-based law firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles has filed a class-action lawsuit against Taco Bell Corp. in California on behalf of a class of plaintiffs led by Amanda Obney, a California woman who says that she doesn't want money or damages from the suit. She only wants the real meat in her burritos, tacos and chulupas. Obney claims that The Bell uses sub-par meat produces and is not "real" beef.

However Greg Creed, President and Chief Concept Officer of the Taco Bell Corporation states:

"The lawsuit is bogus and filled with completely inaccurate facts. Our beef is 100% 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% quality USDA-inspected beef and 12% 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."

Here's the Taco Bell famous recipe you can try at home:

• 88% USDA-inspected quality beef
• 3-5% water for moisture
• 3-5% spices including salt, chili pepper, onion powder, tomato powder, sugar, garlic powder, cocoa powder and a blend of Mexican spices and natural flavors
• 3-5% oats, starch, sugar, yeast, citric acid

Creed continues:

"We're cooking with a proprietary recipe to give our seasoned beef flavor and texture, just like you would with any recipe you cook at home. For example, when you make chili, meatloaf or meatballs, you add your own recipe of seasoning and spices to give the beef flavor and texture, otherwise, it would taste just like unseasoned ground beef. We do the same thing with our recipe for seasoned beef."

Concerning the disability rights infringement law suit, if the litigation is successful, Taco Bell will be required to remedy its barriers and class members will be entitled to claim damages. The class is seeking up to $4,000 for each time a class member encountered a barrier at a covered Taco Bell.

For example, a class member may be entitled to collect damages for each time he or she had difficulty parking, had difficulty getting to the counter because of a narrow queue line, had difficulty using the restroom because it was too small or obstructed, or encountered other barriers.

Back to the beef, Creed plans on taking libel action against claims that their meats are dodgy:

"At Taco Bell, we buy our beef from the same trusted brands you find in the supermarket, like Tyson Foods. 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. We are proud of the quality of our beef and identify all the seasoning and spice ingredients on our website. Unfortunately, the lawyers in this case elected to sue first and ask questions later -- and got their "facts" absolutely wrong. We plan to take legal action for the false statements being made about our food."

Official Statement: Taco Bell
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