A Real Beef With Taco Bell

Taco Bell is being sued for false advertising on any of its menu items that it claims are using beef.

A law firm is claiming that the fast food chain is using false advertising when it says its Mexican delicacies are filled with "ground beef" or "seasoned ground beef."

In fact, the lawsuit claims, the "taco meat filling" used by Taco Bell contains is only about 35% beef, with binders, extenders, preservatives, additives and other agents making up the other 65%.

The class-action lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in California by the Montgomery, Ala., law firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles on behalf of a California woman, Amanda Obney.

Obney isn't looking for money, though.

She wants the court to order Taco Bell to be honest with customers about what is in its tacos, chalupas and other dishes.

"We are asking that they stop saying that they are selling beef," the law firm said.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture's website, "ground beef" or "chopped beef" consists of chopped fresh or frozen beef with or without seasoning, should not contain more than 30% fat and should not contain water, phosphates, binders or extenders.

The lawsuit's claim that Taco Bell's "seasoned beef" contains the forbidden additives is backed up by the restaurant's ingredients list on its website, which says the "seasoned beef" in a Beefy Crunch Burrito contains water, sodium phosphates, soy lecithin, modified corn starch, and anti-caking and anti-dusting agents, among others ingredients.

Taco Bell denies any wrongdoing and that they comply with the federal law.