News

Where’s the beef? Taco Bell sued on behalf of all consumers

January 23, 2011

Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles P.C., a Montgomery, Ala.-based law firm, has filed a lawsuit against Taco Bell, claiming it misleads consumers with advertisements touting its ground beef menu items.

The suit, made on “behalf of all consumers,” challenges Taco Bell’s practices of marketing its “seasoned ground beef” or “seasoned beef” filling, instead of the majority of non-meat substances that are used.

Beasley Allen is asking the company to shift its advertising message and food labeling to educate the public about the true content of its food products. The firm insists Taco Bell’s meat filling does not meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s minimum standard requirement to be considered “beef.”

The firm adds that a majority of the filling is comprised of substances other than beef, including binders such as isolated oat product, and is required to be labeled and advertised as "taco meat filling." 

"Our government, through the USDA and FDA, provides definitions, standards and labeling guidelines for 'ground beef.' What Taco Bell is representing on their restaurant menu as 'ground beef' does not meet any of those definitions, standards and labeling guidelines," said Dee Miles, an attorney for Beasley Allen. "This product does not qualify to be considered 'ground beef' and many of the 'seasoning' ingredients are in fact binders, fillers and coloring. These ingredients increase the overall volume of this product, reducing the actual 'beef' content per serving. It is against the law in this country to take someone's money for a product that is misrepresented. This lawsuit seeks to put a stop to that type of conduct and practice."

Taco Bell denies the claim, issuing the following statement: "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."

The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court Central District of California Southern Division by Beasley Allen attorneys W. Daniel "Dee" Miles, III and William E. Hopkins, Jr., along with the San Diego law firm of Blood Hurst & O'Reardon LLP lawyers Timothy G. Blood, Leslie E. Hurst and Thomas J. O'Reardon, II.

Plaintiffs in the case are Amanda Obney, on behalf of herself, all others similarly situated, and the general public.

Taco Bell, a Yum! Brands company, is headquartered in Irvine, Calif.