Taco Bell's 'Fake Beef' Lawsuit Dropped

By Michelle Woo Tue., Apr. 19 2011 at 3:27 PM

In response to the lawsuit, Taco Bell ran full-page newspaper ads headlined, "Thank you for suing us."

Four months and $4 million in counter-advertising later, the lawsuit against Taco Bell's beef has been voluntarily withdrawn.

High five? Anyone?

As you may remember, an Alabama law firm sued the Irvine-based chain, claiming that its taco meat filling was only 36 percent beef and padded with other stuff like chemicals, starches and powders. The suit sought $5 million in damages.

Then Taco Bell fired back--fiercely, proclaiming in newspaper ads and TV and YouTube campaigns that its taco filling is actually 88 percent beef, with the other 12 percent a mix of water, "Mexican spices" and "other ingredients for flavor."

Of the lawsuit withdrawal, Taco Bell chief executive Greg Creed stated:

This sets the record straight about the high quality of our seasoned beef and the integrity of our advertising. We took great exception to the false claims made about our seasoned beef and wish the attorneys had contacted us before filing and publicizing a lawsuit that disparaged our brand.

Well that's that. Now Taco Bell has time to focus on more important things. Like making a shell out of Doritos.

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Christian Z.

Hey, I totally reported this news before you. Just kidding. Anyways, I think their beef really is 88% beef and 12% acceptable and reasonable additions but they still don't make the ground beef at the stores the way they did in the 80's. I don't know if that's megachain necessity or fat cat capitalism cost-cutting or some of both. Also, when the lawsuit came out I was wondering how the law firm came up with their "only 36% beef" figure.

Jimmah E. Carter

Fat-cat capitalism? Hey, cool, where did you come up with that one? Hollywood -- right?

I totally hate them capitalists!! Without companies to pay taxes we'd all be allowed to pay a lot more. Anyways, without companies there wouldn't be no 401(k) plans, so we'd be able to depend on our social security the way god intended. Year in, year out SS return-on-investment has been 1.8%, but the stock market has only been about 7.6%, even counting the Great Depression, all the recessions, etc. So foo and fie on fat cats!!

Christian Z.

It's not a dig at capitalists. It's a dig at people who take capitalism to a silly extreme so that they do boneheaded things like giving consumers an inferior product for the same (or higher) price as a quality product.

This is a distinction many people (including yourself) don't understand. Capitalism is supposed to be being allowed to provide the goods and services you want to and there's some healthy competition in the mix but it is often seen as "license to lie, cheat and steal your way to the top. Because capitalism is all about getting to the top, right? So that means anything that gets me there is justified, right?"

Let's discuss it more when you can tell the difference between fake capitalism and real capitalism. Until then there's nothing more to discuss.