The lawsuit cites USDA standards requiring that food products labeled "Taco filling" contain at least 40 percent fresh meat. The restaurant chain's ingredient statement lists wheat, soybean, and "isolated oat product" as components of the "seasoned ground beef" used in tacos and burritos, but doesn't divulge percentages.
Without responding tot he specifics of the lawsuit, a prepared statement issued by Taco Bell says the company will "vigorously" defend itself against the charges:
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.
While we wait for southern California's U.S. District Court to render a decision on the merits of the case, it might be fruitful to recall some of the urban legends that have circulated about Taco Bell in recent years. One popular myth claims the restaurant uses worm meat as a "filler" in its beef products, for example (not true). Another claims Taco Bell receives meat deliveries packed in boxes labeled "Grade D But Edible" (also not true). And then there's the tale of the unfortunate Taco Bell customer who woke up with cockroaches hatching in her mouth after eating a taco infested with insect eggs (oh, please!).
Other fast food chains including McDonald's and KFC have been subject to similar "gross-out" urban legends over the years, shining a light on the duplicitous attitude we Americans have toward our fast food: it scares us, but we love it. And we keep going back for more.
