Comments on: Taco Bell Bean/Meat ratio?

Question: Taco Bell Bean/Meat ratio?

Darth Fedor — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 12:32:30 -0800

TacoBellFilter: What does the sign on the tortilla warmer that says something like %71 Bean %29 Taco mean?

I can't remember if that's exactly what it says. If not, it is something very similar. Is this propaganda reminding the employees that on a menu item containing both beans and taco meat, the prescribed ratio is 71% beans to 29% meat? If so, that sucks! 70/30 is bad enough...but 71/29? I don't like the idea of subliminal suggestion being used to shaft me out of getting the taco meat I deserve! Can any former employees shed light on this?

By: pdb

pdb — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 12:39:11 -0800

The surprising thing is that something at Taco Bell claims to contain 29% meat. How do they define "meat"?

But seriously, I'd think that you're right, that it's a ratio to be used when assembling their meals...

By: vorfeed

vorfeed — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 13:58:38 -0800

The surprising thing is that something at Taco Bell claims to contain 29% meat. How do they define "meat"?

By "meat", they mean the stuff that comes out of the "meat" container, regardless of how much filler that "meat" may contain. The actual amount of meat in that burrito is likely to be very small -- when I worked at Arby's ten years ago, the packaging for the blocks of "meat" said, and I quote, "Not more than 70% beef." Not more than!

By: Napierzaza

Napierzaza — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 15:26:32 -0800

Haha, yes there is plenty of sawdust in there. Just bear in mind that Taco Bell is an establishment that serves at least two kinds of meat, chicken or beef. This makes their descision to just say "meat" on the label a little more sensical than saying "chicken/beef/etc".

Sounds like Taco Bell like any other restuarant has a standardized portioning like everywhere else, I'd see as them upholding a minimum over having a cap, it's there to make sure you get a similar portion each time. Other restaurants portion it out at the factory and send them out in trays or precut... better or worse?

By: jdfan

jdfan — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 11:56:12 -0800

Well, I can't speak for Taco Bell now, but when I worked there as a teen (this was the mid-80s, mind you), the meat was indeed meat. It came in biggish loaves (about 6"x6"x18") that we'd dump in large, rectangular aluminum pots and cook up. The only thing added was the rather large flavor packet. I don't recall for sure but I'd guess it was at least 80% (20% fat). It didn't pay for them to use high fat meat b/c we drained off as much liquid after cooking before putting in the flavor packet.

By: rxrfrx

rxrfrx — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 17:47:13 -0800

If you check the Yum website, you can see that all tacos and burritos contain both wheat and soy. You can bet that they put as much non-meat into the meat as possible, to bring the price down. That's how you can get a large, high-calorie meal at Taco bell for less than $3.

It seems pretty dishonest, but I'm OK with that.

By: rxrfrx

rxrfrx — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 17:48:09 -0800

jdfan: Those were the days. Plus, back then, McDonald's fries were cooked in tallow and the nuggets were made from dark meat. Now, these foods have no flavor whatsoever.

By: DevilsAdvocate

DevilsAdvocate — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 14:37:21 -0800

Don't know the significance of them, but as for the actual numbers, it's probably worth noting that 71% and 29% are 5/7 and 2/7, respectively, rounded off to the nearest percent. So those numbers may not be quite as arbitrary as they seem.

By: jdfan

jdfan — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 08:17:51 -0800

The nuggets had meat? How come every one I ever got seemed to be pure fat and gristle?