Check out Technician’s Benjamin Kraudel’s opinion about Amanda Obney’s lawsuit: http://www.technicianonline.com/viewpoint/the-beef-was-getting-in-the-way-of-the-flavor-1.2454392

The average college student is no stranger to fast food. Providing quick, easily-affordable meals to students both low on funds and on the go, fast food restaurants have developed a large presence around college towns; some even have locations on the campuses.

One of the most prominent of these at the University is Taco Bell, with an Express location on the first floor of Talley Student Center. However, while students enjoy their quick meals of tacos and burritos, the restaurant has come under fire on a national level.

A California woman has brought a false-advertising lawsuit against the Taco Bell company, claiming that the meat filling in their tacos is actually only 35 percent ground beef.

Attorney W. Daniel Miles III discussed the statistic, saying research showed the rest of the meat to include such substances as water, modified corn starch, wheat, oats and an anti-dusting agent.

Taco Bell’s response to the suit was not immediate, but when it did come, it was a firmly defensive stance. Last Friday, the company ran a full page ad in numerous high-profile publications, including Wall Street Journal and USA Today.

The ad and subsequent press release lead with the line “Thank you for suing us.” This was followed by Taco Bell’s official stance on what they assured customers comprised their beef. The company promised their meat is 88 percent ground beef, with the remaining 12 percent being the secret recipe.

Taco Bell president Greg Creed stood behind the secret recipe, promising that it was made up of spices and other ingredients added only for flavor.

“We stand behind the quality of our seasoned beef 100 percent,” Creed said, “and we are proud to serve it in all our restaurants. We take any claims to the contrary very seriously and plan to take legal action against those who have made false claims against our seasoned beef.”

Following the ad, Taco Bell has announced that they will be seeking to bring a countersuit for damages to their brand name.

Even as the legal proceedings heat up, Taco Bells across the nation continue to operate, including the Taco Bell Express in Talley Student Center. The question is whether N.C. State students are bothered enough by the possibility of Taco Bell serving “mystery meat” to stop eating there.

Abby Burns, a junior in agricultural education, doesn’t see a problem with eating at the restaurant, regardless of what is in its meat.

“I think that whatever it is, it’s fine,” Burns said. “People just wig out over things sometimes.”

Burns is not alone in her reaction, as the Talley Taco Bell is still seeing a great deal of business. For the most part, students with a history of eating at Taco Bell are not letting the lawsuit change their opinion of the food.

“A lot of poultry products would surprise people if they knew what they can contain and still be edible,” Burns said. “It’s not necessarily that different with the beef.”

Public opinion aside, the recent lawsuit against Taco Bell comes at a time when many restaurant chains are making an effort to let their customers know exactly what it is they are getting. Moe’s Southwest Grill in particular premiered a new menu as part of their Food Mission, which states exactly what each of their fresh ingredients are comprised of.

Kermit Bennett, operating partner of a Moe’s Southwest Grill based in Raleigh, discussed the importance of the new ingredient chart.

“The goal is to let people know we use the best fresh ingredients we can,” Bennett said. “The goal is to use sustainable resources and provide food that is healthier for the people.”

With more restaurants working to explicitly state what goes into their products, it will be interesting to see how Taco Bell presents themselves in the future, especially if it manages to beat the suit currently brought against it. Either way, the eye is on Taco Bell to prove its beef is exactly that — hopefully sooner rather than later.

Coverage By WolfTV

Taco Bell Lawsuit – NC State Student Views from Wolf TV on Vimeo.