"TacoBell" news and stories

A few weeks ago, the nation found out about a California class-action lawsuit against Taco Bell, in which it was alleged that the Mexican-inspired fast food empire was serving a "meat mixture" containing less than 35 percent meat. In response, Taco Bell fought back with a very public statement (and full-page ads). Additionally, they rolled out the Quad Steak Burrito (and Quad Steak Quesadilla) to showcase the fact that they do, in fact, serve real USDA Select beef. Here's how they rate:

The Claims: The Quad Steak Burrito is a burrito with four times the amount of steak pieces than the Steak Burrito Supreme, all wrapped in a flour tortilla filled with seasoned rice, "fire-roasted" salsa, reduced-fat sour cream and cheddar cheese. Its quesadilla counterpart has the same ingredients -- with four times the amount of beef than a Steak Quesadilla -- although it's flatter and not as filling as the burrito. (Both contain 610-660 calories, according to a menu poster.)

When a lawsuit filed last week claimed that Taco Bell meat was pretty light on the actual meat (and heavy on the fillers), those were fighting words to the company that stakes its reputation on meaty burritos, tacos, and chalupas. According to an ABC News report, Taco Bell is now running defense.

Taco Bell President Greg Creed called the lawsuit "bogus and filled with completely inaccurate facts," says ABC. "There is no basis in fact or reality for this suit, and we will vigorously defend the quality of our products from frivolous and misleading claims such as this."

How much beef is "in fact" in Taco Bell's "seaoned beef recipe?" According to Creed, it contains 88 percent USDA-inspected beef, along with ingredients that provide "taste and moisture." And don't forget those "extenders" that pump up the meat's volume. To be continued, folks. And may the best meat evidence win.

Check out all the ingredients, listed at Taco Bell's website.

Food writer/author Robert Sietsema certainly knows food (fast and otherwise), so his article for the Village Voice on the 10 fast-food items that are actually enjoyable is right up his alley. To make the list, Sietsema and colleagues polled friends and spent two weeks (too long) actually tasting the stuff -- from Wendy's to White Castle to KFC to Taco Bell.

Since the Village Voice is New York based, you won't find favorites like an In-N-Out burger on the list, but you will find a chicken biscuit from Popeyes.

Head over to the Village Voice for the remaining nine items.

As one American fast-food chain tries to fend off a public relations nightmare, another is setting its sights on global expansion.

Taco Bell is keeping mum about whether it's responsible for a 21-state outbreak of two rare strains of salmonella, which has sickened more than 150 people and sent 42 of those to the hospital. The Centers for Disease Control is also declining to name the culprit, identifying the offender only as "Mexican-style, fast-food Restaurant Chain A."

There's a sort of dark irony here: Taco Bell has spent millions to become the first name you think of when you hear "Mexican-style fast-food restaurant," and now its popularity has come back to bite it in the chalupa.

But this is more than a game of wild speculation: While the feds are refusing to confirm that Taco Bell is responsible for the outbreak, a public health official in Oregon has. Not only that, but on Monday, a woman in Kentucky filed suit against Taco Bell's parent company, Yum Brands!, alleging that she fell ill with salmonella after eating at one of the chain's restaurants in Frankfort. Kentucky has been hardest hit by the outbreak, with 23 cases, followed by Ohio and Indiana.

Look out, Ronald McDonald. The Colonel has you in his sights.

Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, all owned by Pepsi spinoff Yum! Brands, are gaining ground on McDonalds in China, India and Russia, Bloomburg Businessweek reported. With 37,000 restaurants in 110 countries, Yum! is the world's largest restaurant chain in terms of outlets and its growing in popularity overseas, bringing in more money every year.

More after the jump...