taco bell

Taco Bell has major beef with the allegations made in a lawsuit against it this week — so much, in fact, that it's fighting back.

One California consumer's brought a false-advertising suit against the chain, objecting to its claims to serve "seasoned beef," and alleging the product contains merely 15 percent protein. In response, Taco Bell's contemplating plans to countersue and is defending its product by taking out full-page advertisements in prominent newspapers today.

The ad, titled, "Thank you for suing us. Here's the truth about our seasoned beef," includes the following statement:

The claims made against Taco Bell and our seasoned beef are absolutely false . . . We start with USDA-inspected quality beef (88%). Then add water to keep it juicy and moist (3%). Mix in Mexican spices and flavors (4%) . . . Combine a little oats, caramelized sugar, yeast, citric acid, and other ingredients that contribute to the flavor, moisture, consistency, and quality of our seasoned beef (5%). We stand behind the quality of our seasoned beef 100% 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.

Since the chain's quarterly earnings will be released next week, a full-page ad — despite its six-figure price tag — is probably necessary. Do you buy Taco Bell's claims, and will you be buying its beef again?

Source

• Taste tested: Taco Bell's Beefy Crunch Burrito. — Serious Eats
• Even without access to LA school cafeterias, Jamie Oliver pushes on. — Eater
• Ruth Reichl and Alice Waters will host the first Good Food Awards this weekend. — Grub Street SF
• Dining at Ina Garten's house. — The Hungry Beast
• Sustainable seafood ratings: are they all just marketing baloney? — Salon Food
• Warm up this Winter with an authentic Swiss meal, raclette. — Huffington Post Food
• Animal rights activists have sued the USDA over the food pyramid. — Slashfood
• New in Japan: the McDonald's Miami Burger. — Riptide 2.0

• Be inspired by this lovely Valentine's Day dessert buffet. — Hostess With the Mostess
• The Travel Channel is launching another food competition show. — Eater
• Learn how to behave better when dining out. — Chow
• In March, Taco Bell will add shrimp tacos to its menu. — GrubGrade
• A visual breakdown of the best pizza in America. — Grub Street NY
• Tips for pairing beer and chocolate. — Serious Eats
• Looking for a fun gift? Here's 200 t-shirts perfect for food lovers. — Hide Your Arms

• Julie & Julia isn't the only food-related movie to win a Golden Globe; here's a complete list of foodie winners. — Eater
• Tom Colicchio and Mario Batali are producing a movie that looks at hunger in America — Daily Dish
• Why it's always a good idea to have chickpeas on hand. — The Epi-Log
• The founder of Taco Bell, Glen Bell, has died. — Serious Eats
• Not surprising news of the week: doctors recommend Alicia Silverstone's cookbook over Paula Deen's. — Grub Street NY
• Learn how to make your favorite meat dishes, meat free. — Chow

Taco Bell has repackaged its "fresco-style" menu — which has been around since 2003 — as the new "Drive-Thru Diet." The new ad campaign touts the company's "healthier" menu, featuring items that contain nine grams of fat or less. And in a move that mimics the Subway/Jared pairing, Taco Bell has a newly slimmed spokesperson touting the benefits of the Drive-Thru Diet. Enter Christine Dougherty, an attractive young lady pushing the diet alongside her success story of losing 54 pounds in two years.

To see the commercial, read more

• 21 desserts that celebrate Fall. — Bon Appétit
• Why are doctors selling out to Coke?— The Atlantic
• Learn how to paint your kitchen. — The Amateur Gourmet
• Scenes from the 2009 Los Angeles Chocolate Salon. — Daily Dish
• Andrew Carmellini was crowned the Meatball King at the New York Wine and Food Festival. — Grub Street NY
• Scary or practical? Coasters that detect if a drink is spiked with date-rape drugs. — Eat Me Daily
• Ferran Adria is rumored to be opening a restaurant outside of Spain. — Eater
• Taco Bell is currently testing cupcakes and smoothies.— OC Register

Turns out McDonald's and Burger King won't be the only fast food chains focusing on premium products. So will Taco Bell.

On Tuesday, Yum Brands Inc., which operates Taco Bell, held an investor meeting and announced dramatic plans to shake up the menu at the Tex-Mex chain. Among other things, the game plan includes zeroing in on premium foods, highlighting healthy options, and testing a new line of breakfast offerings.

This year the company launched a nine-item Fresco menu, filled with healthier alternatives that have less than 9 grams of fat, that will be the focus of a "Drive-Thru Diet" campaign in January. It also has plans to extend its selection of beverages, based on the current success of its Frutista Freeze drinks. On top of everything else, the corporation is about to enter early market testing on a breakfast menu, slated to launch in 2012, that'll feature cobranded foods from brands like Seattle's Best, Cinnabon, and Jimmy Dean.

Do you think the fast food corporation's marketing tactics will bring in more diners? Have you sampled anything from Taco Bell's new menu? If not, would you be willing to give it a try?

Source