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Taco Bell Anyone?

Jan 25, 2011#1

sixpackshaker

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110125/ap_on_bi_ge/us_taco_bell_lawsuit

There is not enough meat in Taco Bell's taco meat to qualify as ground beef...

Jan 25, 2011#2

Chibibar

so.... it is more healthy? less beef for soy!

Jan 25, 2011#3

MindDetective

Yeah, I actually find it more appealing now, oddly.
Added at: 12:46
Here's the ingredients via chainsawsuit: http://gizmodo.com/5742413/this-is-what-really-hides-in-taco-bells-beef?skyline=true&s=i

Jan 25, 2011#4

Dave

It still tastes awesome late at night. Personally, I don't care.

Jan 25, 2011#5

ThatNickGuy

Dave said:
It still tastes awesome late at night.

Sounds like my prom night!

Jan 25, 2011#6

sixpackshaker

There is probably more corn in the meat than there is in the shells.

Jan 25, 2011#7

Allen who is Quiet

Dave said:
It still tastes awesome late at night.

That's what she said.

Jan 25, 2011#8

Jiarn

Dave said:
It still tastes awesome late at night. Personally, I don't care.

Yep, having grown up Hispanic I can tell you that Taco Bell was NEVER considered Mexican food. It was Mexican Substitute. It's like Vienna Sausage/Potted Meat/Spam etc. Who cares what's in it if it's freakin delicious in the right situation.

Jan 25, 2011#9

Disconnected

sixpackshaker said:
There is probably more corn in the meat than there is in the shells.

now THATs what she said.

oh wait.

Jan 25, 2011#10

Jiarn

Really Disconnected?! Was that really necessary? I'm about to go to lunch! to taco bell.....

Jan 25, 2011#11

Hylian

All of a sudden I am craving Taco Bell.

Jan 25, 2011#12

figmentPez

It's still food. If the filler were sawdust or dirt, I'd be bothered. As it is the only thing that keeps me from eating it is the high sodium (and they're cutting back on that, at least in test markets)

Beef, water, spices, thickener, salt... so, it's basically more of a chili than just straight beef.

Jan 25, 2011#13

ThatNickGuy

Allen who is Quiet said:
That's what she said.

Dude, get in the now. "Sounds like my prom night" is the new "That's what she said."

It's more versatile.

Jan 25, 2011#14

Dave

ThatNickGuy said:
It's more versatile.

Sounds like my prom night!

Jan 25, 2011#15

ThatNickGuy

That's the spirit!

(Sounds like my prom night.)

Although...would you be worried if Sammi started using that line, Dave?

Jan 25, 2011#16

Allen who is Quiet

ThatNickGuy said:
Dude, get in the now. "Sounds like my prom night" is the new "That's what she said."

It's more versatile.

http://objection.mrdictionary.net/go.php?n=4701500

Jan 25, 2011#17

Chibibar

You know.... it is like what? a dollar something? how much beef you need to be in a taco?

Jan 25, 2011#18

sixpackshaker

ThatNickGuy said:
It's more versatile.

IN YOUR PANTS

Jan 25, 2011#19

Dave

ThatNickGuy said:
That's the spirit!
(Sounds like my prom night.)

Although...would you be worried if Sammi started using that line, Dave?

She's 17. I was sexually active at that age. At this point I'd rather she be smart and safe than anything else.

Jan 25, 2011#20

ThatNickGuy

sixpackshaker said:
IN YOUR PANTS

Jan 25, 2011#21

makare

This news does not in any way affect me because I think Taco Bell is gross.

That is all.

Jan 25, 2011#22

ThatNickGuy

Allen who is Quiet said:
http://objection.mrdictionary.net/go.php?n=4701500

http://objection.mrdictionary.net/go.php?n=4701653

Jan 25, 2011#23

Piotyr

Is taco meat with 1/3 beef and 2/3 oat filler actually more healthful than taco meat with 80% beef and 20% fat and spices?

Jan 25, 2011#24

Emrys

It's people! Taco Bell is made out of people!

Jan 25, 2011#25

sixpackshaker

Piotyr said:
Is taco meat with 1/3 beef and 2/3 oat filler actually more healthful than taco meat with 80% beef and 20% fat and spices?

It is really not about health, it is about truth in advertising.

With the amount of fat in their tacos I doubt 100% ground beef would be any worse for you.

Jan 25, 2011#26

Piotyr

sixpackshaker said:
It is really not about health, it is about truth in advertising.

With the amount of fat in their tacos I doubt 100% ground beef would be any worse for you.

Oh, I know the legal issue is truth in advertising, but most of the reaction I've seen to this is "eww, sickening", so I was just curious if there was any difference in health benefit between the oat filler and ground beef.

Jan 25, 2011#27

makare

Like I said I don't really care either way because I have no interest in Taco Bell but what this makes me think of is pet food. How now they are advertising whole meat dog and cat food with no fillers. It is going to be difficult to argue that the filler is ok for humans in a world where it is getting less and less ok for our pets.

I think that it is ok for pets.

Jan 26, 2011#28

TheBrew

I heard this on the radio last night and I suddenly started craving Taco Bell. Sadly, there was only an Arby's nearby.

Jan 26, 2011#29

sixpackshaker

TheBrew said:
I heard this on the radio last night and I suddenly started craving Taco Bell. Sadly, there was only an Arby's nearby.

I wish I took a picture what their roast beef looks like before it gets baked at the restaurant.

It looks like a giant blob of chunky baloney.

Jan 26, 2011#30

Jiarn

sixpackshaker said:
It looks like a giant blob of chunky baloney.

Sounds like Nickguy's prom night!

Jan 26, 2011#31

ThatNickGuy

Now wait just a damn minute!

....

Yeah, that's probably true.

Jan 27, 2011#32

Chibibar

Tinwhistler said:
I used to work for taco bell...now granted, this was 25 years ago when they still cooked their own beef on the premises. But at the time, they cooked 10 lb bags of beef with maybe a cup or a cup and a half of spice mix. The spice mix had oats in it, but in order for this article to be true, they would've had to cook 20 lbs of oats mixture with only 10 lbs of beef. It was more like 10 lbs of beef to about 1/3 lb of spice mix, only some of which was oats.

Now, granted, things may have changed in 25 years, but their meat tastes the same to me as it ever has.

you know, when you put it that way..... that is a ton of spices!!!

Jan 27, 2011#33

sixpackshaker

The "meat product" is now cryo-sealed and heated. It is basically boil in bag now. That's how they are able to operate in those closets in Gas Stations.

Jan 27, 2011#34

figmentPez

Tinwhistler said:
I used to work for taco bell...now granted, this was 25 years ago when they still cooked their own beef on the premises. But at the time, they cooked 10 lb bags of beef with maybe a cup or a cup and a half of spice mix. The spice mix had oats in it, but in order for the suit to be true (which alleges only about 30-35% beef, and the rest fillers), they would've had to cook 20 lbs of oats mixture with only 10 lbs of beef. It was more like 10 lbs of beef to about 1/3 lb of spice mix, only some of which was oats.

Now, granted, things may have changed in 25 years, but their meat tastes the same to me as it ever has.

I don't think it would have to be 20lbs of spice/oat mixture; it'd only have to be about 10lbs, along with 1¼ gallons of water. (Even less spices and water if the suit is only including lean meat in the 30-35%, and counting fat as part of the filler.) The listed incredients are something like: beef, water, spices [spice ingredients listed], salt, perservative. If I understand labeling laws correctly, the ingredients are listed in order of amount. So, there's more water in there than spice mix. It'd still require a big change from what you were used to, though.

Jan 27, 2011#35

Jay

I think I speak for all of us when I say "35%? Wow that much?"

Jan 27, 2011#36

Chibibar

Jay said:
I think I speak for all of us when I say "35%? Wow that much?"

well... 35% of beef but not the "good stuff" I mean like stomach, leg meat, hoof? stuff.

Jan 27, 2011#37

Hylian

http://consumerist.com/2011/01/taco-bells-statement-on-the-class-action-lawsuit.html

UPDATED STATEMENT REGARDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT - January 26, 2011
"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."
What is in Taco Bell's recipe for seasoned beef?
"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.
Our recipe for seasoned beef includes ingredients you'd find in your home or in the supermarket aisle today:
• 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 proprietary blend of Mexican spices and natural flavors).
• 3-5% oats, starch, sugar, yeast, citric acid, and other ingredients that contribute to the quality of our product.
Our seasoned beef contains no "extenders" to add volume, as some might use. For more information about our ingredients go to http://www.tacobell.com."
Greg Creed
President and Chief Concept Officer
Taco Bell Corp

Jan 27, 2011#38

Chibibar

So.... Tin's experience in Taco Bell still holds true then

yay!!

Jan 27, 2011#39

rabbitgod

Jiarn said:
Yep, having grown up Hispanic I can tell you that Taco Bell was NEVER considered Mexican food. It was Mexican Substitute. It's like Vienna Sausage/Potted Meat/Spam etc. Who cares what's in it if it's freakin delicious in the right situation.

We call it "Mexican Shaped" here. It has the right words and the right shape, but brother, that ain't Mexican food.

Jan 28, 2011#40

Chibibar

Tinwhistler said:
yeah...you'll never find machaca con huevos at Taco Bell

Machaca is a kind of marinated, dried and shredded meat akin to beef jerky. Machaca con huevos rolled up in a hot tortilla with a side of frijoles pintos and skillet potatoes is a damn fine breakfast.

Dang... now I'm hungry

Jan 28, 2011#41

Joe Johnson

rabbitgod said:
We call it "Mexican Shaped" here. It has the right words and the right shape, but brother, that ain't Mexican food.

Of course, it's FAST FOOD. I guess it's kind of "mexican food", but if someone were to say to me "let's go grab some mexican food" Taco Bell wouldn't even be considered to be in that category. That's not a dig on them, they're just a fast food joint. If someone said (for some reason) "let's get some American food", I wouldn't go to Burger King, and I wouldn't go to LeAnn Chin's for chinese. To me they're all just flavors of fast food, a bottom feeding niche that I go to for something fast and cheap. I also don't consider them restaurants, even though I think they're technically called that.

Jan 28, 2011#42

makare

I do not like Taco Bell at all, Taco John's on the other hand. Love it! Potato oles are yummy.

Jan 28, 2011#43

Mathias

Beef, water, isolated oat product, salt, chili pepper, onion powder, tomato powder, oats (wheat), soy lecithin, sugar, spices, maltodextrin (a polysaccharide that is absorbed as glucose), soybean oil (anti-dusting agent), garlic powder, autolyzed yeast extract, citric acid, caramel color, cocoa powder, silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent), natural flavors, yeast, modified corn starch, natural smoke flavor, salt, sodium phosphate, less than 2% of beef broth, potassium phosphate, and potassium lactate.

Really...this isn't all that bad...

Jan 28, 2011#44

General Specific

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/372475/january-27-2011/gordita-supreme-court

Jan 28, 2011#45

makare

General Specific said:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/372475/january-27-2011/gordita-supreme-court

bwahaha "beef adjacent" that is pretty damn funny.

Jan 28, 2011#46

figmentPez

The only thing that surprises me is the cocoa powder. I wouldn't have guessed.

Jan 29, 2011#47

MindDetective

I dunno. The sand surprised me a little bit.

Jan 29, 2011#48

figmentPez

MindDetective said:
I dunno. The sand surprised me a little bit.

If silicon dioxide in food surprised you, then you really need to read labels more often.

Jan 29, 2011#49

makare

They allow a certain amount of bug parts in peanut butter.... Id prefer sand really.

Jan 29, 2011#50

MindDetective

figmentPez said:
If silicon dioxide in food surprised you, then you really need to read labels more often.

I probably should, really.

Jan 30, 2011#51

strawman

Keep in mind that food producers use weight to figure food percentages, but the complaint doesn't suggest that they are using a similar measure. While the ingredients list suggests that the material making up most of the product by weight is beef, the reality is that one cup of beef weights vastly more than one cup of oats.

If the complainant is using volume, then 35% beef is actually pretty substantial- one cup of beef to every two cups of oats. By weight, this would be easily more than seventy percent, and thus it could be well within the beef industry's guidelines.

Quite frankly it's stupid to complain about it, some of the best hamburger patties one might make at home contain a lot of things other than beef.

Jan 30, 2011#52

figmentPez

1 Pound of ground beef = 2 Cups
1 Pound of water = 2 cups
1 Pound of flour = 3.6 cups (I'm assuming spices, oats and other stuff averages to be similar to flour)

So, going by Taco Bell's 88% beef, we'd be left with roughly 6% water, 6% spices. Someone can check my math, but that would make 10 pounds of prepared meat filling: 8.8 pounds of beef, 0.6 pounds of water and 0.6 pounds of spices, oats and other stuff. That would be 17.6 cups of beef, 1.2 cups of water and 2.16 cups of dry ingredients. 20.96 cups of ingredients, 84% beef, 6% water, 10% dry ingredients by volume.

The dry ingredients would have t0 have something like 15 cups per pound in order to drop 88% beef by weight down to 36% beef by volume.

Jan 31, 2011#53

TheBrew

I had Taco Bell on saturday; it was just as delicious as I had imagined it.

I could even taste the beef like Taco filling.

Jan 31, 2011#54

strawman

We need a more catchy name for the filling.

Pseudo beef?

Faux beef?

Sorta-beef?

Beefish?

Jan 31, 2011#55

Biannoshufu

Beefito.

Jan 31, 2011#56

sixpackshaker

Carne por pinche gringos

Jan 31, 2011#57

Dave

I wonder how many times they tested and how many different locations. I must investigate their methodology.

Jan 31, 2011#58

Denbrought

Dave said:
I wonder how many times they tested and how many different locations. I must investigate their methodology.

TO THE DAVE-MOBILE!

Jan 31, 2011#59

Dave

They don't post their methods. So it's difficult to tell how valid their testing is.

Jan 31, 2011#60

Mathias

Dave said:
They don't post their methods. So it's difficult to tell how valid their testing is.

But Dave THEY say it's bad in a cute little internet article! TO THE PETA MOBILE!

Jan 31, 2011#61

strawman

Mathias said:
But Dave THEY say it's bad in a cute little internet article! TO THE PETA MOBILE!

PETA is only 35% humane, and while I won't tell you whether that's by volume or weight I will note that one of the ingredients is "hot air".

Jan 31, 2011#62

figmentPez

un-beef-lievable

Apr 20, 2011#63

Dave

PSYCH!!! Sorry we sued you and made a big deal about it. Our bad.

Turns out the Taco Bell meat is 88% beef. A bit more than the 39% the lawsuit stated. Will the lawyers who brought the suit be counter-sued for libel? One could only hope. If nothing else it would make damned sure they revealed their testing methodology.

Apr 20, 2011#64

Chibibar

You can go Fresco style and have less fat! (plus it taste good to ME!)

Apr 22, 2011#65

fade

Jiarn said:
Yep, having grown up Hispanic I can tell you that Taco Bell was NEVER considered Mexican food. It was Mexican Substitute. It's like Vienna Sausage/Potted Meat/Spam etc. Who cares what's in it if it's freakin delicious in the right situation.

So what are you now?

Apr 23, 2011#66

Ravenpoe

fade said:
So what are you now?

Now he's texmex.

Apr 24, 2011#67

Sparhawk

Taco Hell is just gross to me. Haven't eaten it in over 8 years now, but do enjoy some great street vendor tacos at times.

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