Where’s the beef? Not in the taco, according to a class action launched by an Alabama law firm.
WSFA News in Montgomery reports that the firm has alleged that fast-food giant Taco Bell uses false advertising when referring to the filling in tacos as “beef.”
“Rather than beef, these food items are actually made with a substance known as “taco meat filling,” according to the lawsuit. It says Taco Bell should refer to its product as “taco meat filling” because it contains mostly “extenders” and other non-meat substances.
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These include “isolated oat product,” wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent, autolyzed yeast extract, modified cornstarch and sodium phosphate as well as beef and seasonings.
The USDA defines “beef” as “flesh of cattle,” and according to 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 per cent fat, and shall not contain added water, phosphates, binders, or extenders.”
A Taco Bell spokesman told WSFA that, “Taco Bell prides itself on serving high-quality Mexican inspired food with great value. We’re happy that the millions of customers we serve every week agree. We deny our advertising is misleading in any way and we intend to vigorously defend the suit.”
