Athena Lund

Photo Editor

Taco Bell lovers have spent the past couple weeks wondering what they are actually eating after the lawsuit filed on Jan. 19 claimed the popular fast-food chain’s meat is a mystery. This Mexican fast-food chain was  slapped in the face with a “false advertising” lawsuit.
It was found that Taco Bell was using oat products as a seasoning for it’s “beef”. It doesn’t meet USDA requirements and is actually only 35 percent beef.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court on behalf of Amanda Obney of California. The class-action suit objects to the name of the meat being called “seasoned ground beef or seasoned beef, when in fact a substantial amount of the filling contains substances other than beef.”
Although, Taco Bell has denied these claims. They say their “seasoned beef is 88% beef, with the remaining 12% a secret recipe – including water, sugar and spices.”

The ground beef is made up of water, isolated oat product, autolyzed yeast extract, wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodextrin, anti-dusting agent, modified corn starch, sodium phosphate, as well as some beef and seasonings.
The lawsuit does not seek money but only for Taco Bell to be honest in its advertising.  “Taco meat filling” is the name the lawsuit is leaning towards and would be more comfortable with.

Photo/ Athena Lund

“What Orono thinks about Taco Bell.”