# I'm watching this show about Taco Bell... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347 "2007-12-27T01:42:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/1 "2007-12-27T01:42:47Z")
There’s a show that I’m watching on the History channel about fast food restaurants. They are profiling Taco Bell and I’ve noticed that the Taco Bell honchos never use the word _meat_ when referring to what’s inside the tacos. They call it _protein_. So, what exactly is Taco Bell _protein_ made out of? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/2 "2007-12-27T01:52:07Z")
Soylent Green. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/3 "2007-12-27T02:02:44Z")
[QUOTE=King Friday] I’ve noticed that the Taco Bell honchos never use the word _meat_ when referring to what’s inside the tacos. They call it _protein_. [/QUOTE] That’s disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/4 "2007-12-27T02:41:00Z")
I think it’s a food professional thing. You hear it all the time on Top Chef. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/5 "2007-12-27T02:47:34Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Soylent Green. [/QUOTE] _la soja verde prestada_ ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/6 "2007-12-27T02:48:30Z")
It’s made out of amino acids, but the source of the protein is cows as their website advertises ground beef tacos. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/7 "2007-12-27T02:54:52Z")
Beans are high in protein, as is chicken, both of which are prevalent in Taco Bell products. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/8 "2007-12-27T04:11:56Z")
They say protein because they’re products have beans, beef, or chicken, and it’s easier to classify all of them with one word. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/9 "2007-12-27T04:44:30Z")
[QUOTE=King Friday] So, what exactly is Taco Bell _protein_ made out of? [/QUOTE] When I worked there 20 years ago the beef came in big plastic bags marked “USDA Grade D.” At the time, we joked that we thought Grade C was the lowest rated for human consumption. Turns out, that was an [urban legend](http://www.all-lies.com/legends/academia/gradedmeat.shtml). Although, still, eeew. I’ve heard that Taco Hell has upgraded in the twenty years since then, so maybe they’re up to using a higher USDA Grade by now. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/10 "2007-12-27T04:50:37Z")
Chihuahuas. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/11 "2007-12-27T04:50:56Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray] I’ve heard that Taco Hell has upgraded in the twenty years since then, so maybe they’re up to using a higher USDA Grade by now. [/QUOTE] The USDA doesn’t doesn’t use letter grades for meat. It goes (from best to worst): Prime Choice Select Standard Commercial Utility Cutter Canner Select is the lowest you’ll find in the store (in raw form, that is.) I imagine Taco Bell uses standard or commercial grade, though in those cases the meat usually isn’t graded cause it’s n ot worth the money to have your meat graded that low. (it’s voluntary to submit the meat to grading.) ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/12 "2007-12-27T05:13:08Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] The USDA doesn’t doesn’t use letter grades for meat. It goes (from best to worst): [/QUOTE] Dude. This _was_ twenty years ago. AFAIK, the standards have been updated a bit since then. Also, the letter-grade system is, in fact, still used… for the maturity of the beef (source). See summaries [here](http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article/30/USDA-Beef-Quality-Grades) or [here](http://meat.tamu.edu/beefgrading.html), or go look at the [usda site](http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/stand/st-pubs.htm) itself (if you like pdfs). ---
**Author:** ![t-mobileguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@t-mobileguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-mobileguy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/13 "2007-12-27T13:45:09Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Soylent Green. [/QUOTE] They already have something out there like that. It’s called Soylent cola. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Flipshod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@Flipshod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipshod)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/14 "2007-12-27T16:04:56Z")
It’s just insider jargon. What’s worse is how all of the marketing demo folks constantly refer to it as “product” rather than the food that it is. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/15 "2007-12-27T16:25:11Z")
> [@](#): > > They already have something out there like that. It’s called Soylent cola. And how does it taste, Mr Bones? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/16 "2007-12-27T16:29:37Z")
[QUOTE=Flipshod] It’s just insider jargon. What’s worse is how all of the marketing demo folks constantly refer to it as “product” rather than the food that it is. [/QUOTE] Wait… we’re talking about Taco Bell here. I might be happier to call it GRAS - Generally Regarded As Safe to consume, but not intended to be consumed. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/17 "2007-12-27T16:47:04Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] The USDA doesn’t doesn’t use letter grades for meat. It goes (from best to worst): Prime Choice Select Standard Commercial Utility Cutter Canner Select is the lowest you’ll find in the store (in raw form, that is.) I imagine Taco Bell uses standard or commercial grade, though in those cases the meat usually isn’t graded cause it’s n ot worth the money to have your meat graded that low. (it’s voluntary to submit the meat to grading.) [/QUOTE] Thanks for reminding me why don’t go to Taco Bell. They’re always advertising things that sound pretty good – but for $.99, what quality of ingredients do you expect? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/18 "2007-12-27T17:10:55Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] And how does it taste, Mr Bones? [/QUOTE] Well, Mr. Interlocutor, I’d say the taste varies from person to person. ---
**Author:** ![t-mobileguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@t-mobileguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-mobileguy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/19 "2007-12-27T17:41:20Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] Well, Mr. Interlocutor, I’d say the taste varies from person to person. [/QUOTE] :eek: you…you… you stole my joke ---
**Author:** ![parsnip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parsnip/32/4564_2.png) [@parsnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parsnip)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347/20 "2007-12-27T18:00:41Z")
[QUOTE=Aesiron] It’s made out of amino acids, but the source of the protein is cows as their website advertises ground beef tacos. [/QUOTE] The website further says: None of the Taco Bell® menu items contain the following potential allergens: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), Sulfites or Sulfiting agents, Shellfish, Nuts or nut extracts (especially peanuts), Undeclared fish or seafood, Yellow #5, Lar There website has nice and clear on the diet restriction labeling. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-this-show-about-taco-bell/431347.md?page=2)