Where's the Beef? Print
Thursday, January 27 2011

A class-action lawsuit has been filed in Alabama against Taco Bell, claiming its "seasoned meat" doesn't contain enough beef to fit the definition for "beef" set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
 
Attorney W. Daniel "Dee" Miles III, of Beasley Allen Crow Methvin Portis & Miles PC, alleges in the lawsuit that the fast food giant's advertisements mislead consumers by claiming that it serves "seasoned ground beef" or "seasoned beef" in its menu items.

"You can't call it beef by definition," attorney W. Daniel "Dee" Miles III said in regard to the suit his firm has filed. "It's junk. I wouldn't eat it."
 
Taco Bell released a statement on its website from Greg Creed, President and Chief Concept Officer, defending its food:

"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."

—Source:  Los Angeles Times and TacoBell.com