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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Chow / ??!! It's Almost Lunchtime!

Posted by David Schmader on Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 11:43 AM

To help you make informed choices, here's Gizmodo's report on what's actually in Taco Bell's "beef."

And here's a news report on the class-action lawsuit claiming that Taco Bell is engaging in false advertising by calling their alleged beef "beef":

The complaint alleges that what Taco Bell calls "beef" doesn't meet the minimum requirements set by the USDA to be called "beef" or "seasoned ground beef" or anything of the kind.

"Rather than beef, these food items are actually made with a substance known as "taco meat filling," according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit states that Taco Bell should refer to its product as "taco meat filling" because it contains mostly "extenders" and other non-meat substances.

What are these substances? The document lists water, "Isolated Oat Product," wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent, autolyzed yeast extract, modified corn starch and sodium phosphate as well as beef and seasonings.

The USDA defines "beef" as "flesh of cattle."

You are now free to run for the border.

Comments (28) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

so, does that make it vegetarian?

Posted by passionate_jus on January 25, 2011 at 11:49 AM

No, it makes it meat-loaf.

Posted by Arsenic7 on January 25, 2011 at 11:51 AM

So, it's bad to have oats in your hamburger, but good to have lips and toenails in your hot dog? Huh.

Posted by Canuck on January 25, 2011 at 11:55 AM

next up: fox "news".

Posted by Adrian Ryan on January 25, 2011 at 11:55 AM

A fourthmeal of notbeef.

Posted by Urgutha Forka on January 25, 2011 at 11:57 AM

Gawker describes the ingredient list as 'gruesome'. It may not be legal to just call it beef, but half the stuff in there is what I use to season beef when I make homemade tacos anyway. Chili powder, garlic, etc. Why is that gruesome?

Posted by Hover Dog on January 25, 2011 at 12:02 PM

Just get rid of that pesky 36% and a vegetarian like me could eat it. Technically. I still wouldn't.

Posted by Anne18 on January 25, 2011 at 12:06 PM

For a brief period in time, their meat was part chihuahua flesh.

Posted by CommonKnowledge on January 25, 2011 at 12:12 PM

I've always been weirded out by referring to meat as "flesh." Is muscle tissue technically considered flesh?

Posted by Dougsf on January 25, 2011 at 12:13 PM

And its dehydrated packets of 'meat', just add water.

Posted by Kinison

on January 25, 2011 at 12:14 PM

You realize that one of their burrito ingredients is actually Fritos, right?

Posted by Free Lunch on January 25, 2011 at 12:17 PM

As a Texan, I can tell you that Fritos are a noble component of many fine meals. (But I doubt the Buttcrunch Burrito or whatever is one of them.)

Posted by David Schmader on January 25, 2011 at 12:24 PM

I've never had the courage to eat at Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, Arby's or Taco Time...

Posted by Peter F on January 25, 2011 at 12:25 PM

You should probably be eating less beef.

Posted by Fistique on January 25, 2011 at 12:31 PM

@6- The seasonings are probably far less than a full percentage of the whole product, but I have to agree that water, oats and soy aren't gruesome. They also aren't beef.

Posted by dwight moody on January 25, 2011 at 12:36 PM

So in other words its some seasoned beef with oats?

Why is that gross or disgusting?

Posted by giffy on January 25, 2011 at 12:37 PM

Doublemeat Palace!

Posted by g on January 25, 2011 at 12:47 PM

But what part of the cow does the 36% come from? That's the scary part.

Posted by blip on January 25, 2011 at 12:55 PM

holy shit this is amazing!

Posted by aardvark on January 25, 2011 at 12:55 PM

@17, yes! The secret ingredient is meat!

Posted by Blech on January 25, 2011 at 12:56 PM

@9:

I think "flesh" generally refers to any soft body tissue; muscle and fat mainly, but I suppose it could also include organs as well.

And I guess the general thrust of this complaint is that, if it contains more filler than meat, it's not really meat, right?

Posted by COMTE

on January 25, 2011 at 12:59 PM

It would be nice if the FDA started allowing sawdust sausages again. Might help our obesity problem.

Posted by Matt the Engineer on January 25, 2011 at 1:01 PM

Along with your "beef" tacos, be sure to drink plenty of Malk (now with vitamin R).

Posted by Urgutha Forka on January 25, 2011 at 1:14 PM

These ingredients look just like the ones on your package of Boca Burger. Except for "wheat oats", which looks like a typo.

Posted by Fnarf

on January 25, 2011 at 1:20 PM

I feel like I have known this for years, at least by word of mouth.

Posted by Dexter on January 25, 2011 at 1:28 PM

Color me surprised. Fast food is mostly faked and loaded with fillers to improve Taco Hell's bottom line? Shocking. Simply shocking.

Remember kids: Convenience costs.

Fast-Cheap-Good... pick only two.

Posted by treacle on January 25, 2011 at 2:47 PM

I got diarrhea just reading that. Fuckin' Taco Bell.

Posted by T on January 25, 2011 at 3:05 PM

2 - meat loaf is way more meaty than that list of ingredients. make it with prime grade ground beef, or perhaps with turkey or buffalo mixed in, and meat loaf is awesome. especially with bacon on top...

Posted by onion on January 25, 2011 at 3:34 PM