# Taco Bell's Ground Beef Is Less Than 35% Actual Meat **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875 "2011-01-25T03:09:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/41 "2011-01-25T13:11:09Z")
Will I stop giving Taco Bell my business? I never started. Houston has [no shortage](http://www.gunsandtacos.com/) of Tex-Mex/Mexican food. In all neighborhoods, at all price levels. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/42 "2011-01-25T13:13:34Z")
Any word on the meat they describe as “chicken”? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/43 "2011-01-25T13:13:38Z")
Anyone else getting a hankerin’ for Taco Bell? mmm (running for the border) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/44 "2011-01-25T13:15:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Any word on the meat they describe as “chicken”? Just looked it up: “Chicken Breast Meat With Rib Meat, Water, Seasoning [Salt, Maltodextrin, Spices, Garlic Powder, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Onion Powder, Carrageenan, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Natural Flavoring, Mixed Triglycerides, Yeast, Modified Corn Starch, Corn Syrup Solids, Yeast Extract, Alginates (Sodium, Calcium And/Or Ammonium), Cellulose, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate Used To Protect Quality, Not More Than 2% Silicon Dioxide Added To Prevent Caking, Soybean Oil], Modified Food Starch, Sodium Phosphates Soy Lecithin (Used As A Processing Aid). CONTAINS SOYBEANS” Damn. Same problem as the “beef”. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/45 "2011-01-25T13:37:07Z")
> [@](#): > > How much more forthright do they need to be? Should they tattoo it on all their employees foreheads? Would that satisfy you? They should have the information easily accessible to the average customer who is in their establishment. It shouldn’t be on a website (how many people go online when they’re about to order?) and it shouldn’t be on a tiny card in the manager’s office. It should be printed in large letters on a poster hanging on the wall in the lobby/ordering space. However, I have to admit that I haven’t eaten any TB in years, nor have I visited one of their shops. And I must say, I’d actually be relieved to find out that their “ground meat” was actually mostly TVP, because their prices are so cheap that otherwise I’d wonder if the meat was mostly roadkill or rejects from the slaughterhouse. I’ve eaten a ground beef/TVP mixture several times in home cooked meals, and enjoyed it. I just want to know what I’m eating. I’m not upset about the fact that a fast food place is serving a mix of TVP and beef, I’m upset at the lack of honesty. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/46 "2011-01-25T13:52:31Z")
I eat at Taco Bell at every opportunity (read when my wife is out of town or working late), it’s my favorite fast food resturant hands down. I don’t care if there’s soy, feathers or clown noses in the food - it tastes good and I like it. When I want real Mexican food I don’t go to Taco Bell, but when I want Taco Bell real Mexican food won’t cut it. I’ll have a soft taco supreme, a chili cheese burrito and a nacho cheese chalupa and I’ll be glad of it. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/47 "2011-01-25T14:11:14Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > So is TVP actually good for you? Or rather, it’s not worse nutritionally than the beef it emulates? It’s basically tofu, which is generally believed to be good for you, yep. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/48 "2011-01-25T14:37:42Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > _Riight._ On their website the listing for “Seasoned Beef” reads: “Beef, Water, Seasoning [Isolated Oat Product, Salt, Chili Pepper, Onion Powder, Tomato Powder, Oats (Wheat), Soy Lecithin, Sugar, Spices, Maltodextrin, Soybean Oil (Anti-dusting Agent), Garlic Powder, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Silicon Dioxide, Natural Flavors, Yeast, Modified Corn Starch, Natural Smoke Flavor], Salt, Sodium Phosphates. CONTAINS SOYBEAN, WHEAT” > > Notice that the beef-to-filler proportion isn’t listed. Where on _any_ ingredient list are the proportions \*\*ever \*\*listed? ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/49 "2011-01-25T15:12:09Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > And? > > You may not realize, but some of us eat TVP deliberately … I make a lasagne with a TVP ‘meat’ sauce that is indistinguishable from real hamburger crumbles. Literally. > > Now if it was made of earthworms, or cow assholes, then it would be surprising news. A bit of soy based protein, big meh. Well, given big business maybe the cow assholes might not be too surprising. mrAru like this disgusting sausage I call snout because apparently it is made of the _ahem_ lesser known and used bits of leftover cow. Damned things smell nasty when cooked. I’m quite aware that nearly everyone has had TVP. I was just enlightening those who didn’t know. It’s fine. And as far as I’m aware, except for the order of ingredients indicating which there is more of, proportions aren’t required. So, there’s more beef than TVP, according to that list. Whether there is or not is up to the judge or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![ColdPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@ColdPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/50 "2011-01-25T15:36:07Z")
After seeing this thread I decided to check out this Taco Bell place and it turns out they’ve opened their first two UK stores in the past 6 months. Maybe I’ll pop into one of them sometime if I’m nearby! The nutritional info isn’t up on the UK website yet but I’d be surprised if it wasn’t very similar to the US version. This TVP sounds like good stuff, I’d be more concerned about the beef. I’m guessing it’s mechanically recovered which is a bit gross. Still going to try a taco next time I’m near one though! ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/51 "2011-01-25T15:41:10Z")
Silicon Dioxide? Isn’t that the “do not eat” stuff you get in electronics packaging? Nom! ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/52 "2011-01-25T15:49:01Z")
I find it funny that certain food is considered defiled by the addition of a less unhealthy ingredient. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/53 "2011-01-25T15:51:38Z")
I’d rather have TVP than mechanically separated-then-ground-back-together stuff, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/54 "2011-01-25T15:54:53Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Edibility aside, Burger King’s side dishes used to have taste. I don’t mean they taste bad now, they _literally_ don’t have _any_ taste. Their “onion rings”, french fries, and hash browns all have slightly less flavor than a mixture of cardboard and raw corn starch. I mean that literally. Their onion rings, especially, actually taste like cardboard. Thats what you get when you ban trans fats. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/55 "2011-01-25T16:01:00Z")
I don’t know what they put in their burritos. All I know is that it makes them fucking delicious! I love Taco Bell and will continue getting bean and TVP burritos. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/56 "2011-01-25T16:03:19Z")
If it was 100% TVP, I’d be all over that. People with food allergies: Speaking as a vegetarian and someone with a rare food allergy, I just have to say that you cannot expect that kind of info to be on a fast food menu board. You absolutely must take the time to read their website or any in-store posters/pamphlets before you choose. BTW, judging by a glance at their website, soy is in multiple products on the TB menu, including in their flatbread, soy oil in many products, soy sauce or soy lecithin in their spicy sauces, etc. Eater beware. That being said, they don’t earn points for me by not including a link (that I can find) to the detailed ingredient listing on their mobile version of their website, or a link to the standard version of the webpage. (Full disclosure: I stopped going years ago because we’d keep getting “fucked at the drive-thru,” including getting beef in a bean burrito- if only I’d realized they were trying to give me soy!) McDonald’s is a classic for a previous incident on how not to disclose ingredients, having even sent out a letter to a vegetarian, listing their fries as a vegetarian option, and not disclosing the beef broth flavoring their potato products. Protests ensued when this was discovered, from vegetarians and Hindus. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/57 "2011-01-25T16:30:30Z")
Heck, if you’re worried about the beef (or the “beef”) get the bean burrito. 'S good. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/58 "2011-01-25T16:35:24Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > And as far as I’m aware, except for the order of ingredients indicating which there is more of, proportions aren’t required. > So, there’s more beef than TVP, according to that list. > Whether there is or not is up to the judge or whatever. Yeah, I’m also not sure how you can come up with 35% beef given that ingredient list unless you count water as a non-beef ingredient. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/59 "2011-01-25T16:36:16Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > I’d rather have TVP than mechanically separated-then-ground-back-together stuff, yeah. I’ve never really seen the big deal about mechanically separated meat (except in the case of beef with mad cow concerns.) What’s the big deal about using every last scrap of meat possible from the animal? I say it’s great to eat as much of the animal as possible. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875/60 "2011-01-25T16:37:06Z")
Well at least that explains why they are so cheap. There’s a Taco Bell right next to my grocery store, and I often wonder why I’m spending 2.99 a pound on ground beef when I could get 2 tacos (with all the other condiments) for that price. My home made tacos kick their ass though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bells-ground-beef-is-less-than-35-actual-meat/568875.md?page=4)