What’s in a simple seasoned ground-beef taco? One would think it would contain mostly meat, maybe some seasoning and possibly some type of filler (think bread crumbs in meatballs).  However, Amanda Obney has sued Taco Bell in California because she believes that the “seasoned beef” is actually a small percentage of beef with water, “isolated oat product,” wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodextrin, anti-dusting agent, autolyzed yeast extract, modified corn starch and sodium phosphate.  Not exactly your grandmother’s recipe…

What Does The Suit Really Allege?

Outside of alleging that the taco meat does not meet the minimum standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (the “USDA”) to be labeled or advertised as “beef,” the crux of the suit claims that Taco Bell make false and deceptive misrepresentations and omissions about their beef products.  Plaintiffs goal: to have Taco Bell properly advertise and label their food.  Of course the Plaintiff seeks damages, which exceed $5million for the misinformation.  However, Plaintiff makes no allegations of what actually constitutes “chicken” and “carne asada” served by Taco Bell (claiming they are what they are advertised to be).  Finally, Plaintiff takes issue with the term “seasonings” which she describes as adding no flavor, but rather are just binders and extenders.   

What Defines Beef?

By simple definition beef is the flesh of a bovine.  The USDA defines ground beef as “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 percent far, and shall not contain added water, phosphates, binders or extenders.” Additionally, the USDA Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book requires that food labeled as “Taco filling” to contain “at least 40 percent fresh meat.” According to the suit, Taco Bell sends all of this “meat” as “Taco Meat Filling”