Taco Bell should issue an apology and either change the composition of their meat or stop marketing is as meat. While this information will not stop me from eating at Taco Bell, it may stop some of my friends from eating there. An ostentatious change in marketing will probably cause a loss in business, but a quiet change that is discreetly worked in will most likely keep Taco Bell’s sales steady. The effect of the lawsuit, however, is difficult to ascertain; thus, the effect from a change in marketing will be difficult to measure.
— Samruddhi Somani, first-year economics student
Americans should realize that they are being deceived into buying a product that isn’t what it is advertised. College students aren’t going to buy cigarettes that are 36 percent tobacco or bread that is 36 percent wheat. The fact that the meat fails to even meet the USDA standard for meat filling (40 percent) emphasizes this. It’s scary to me that the USDA has standards for meat filling, meat, beef and ground beef, and that Taco Bell fails to hit on any standard. This is especially scary since one of the ingredients is sand. I think that they should stay away from the meat definition, and instead rely on the pure yumminess to effectively market it. If we were looking for the healthy, not the processed cat meat taco, we’d avoid Taco Bell all together. Taco Bell is America embodied — a faux representation of culture, craftily meshed with deception.
— Robert Sinners, first-year public administration graduate student
The fast food industry is absolutely repulsive. This should lead to the downfall of the Taco Bell franchise. However, I can assure you their PR magicians will save the name by putting another cute dog out there to distract you from the fact their meat is not real. Come on people, this should be a huge red light. Stop eating it; it is not real meat, it is bad for you. Unfortunately this will change nothing; the Taco Bell in Russell House will probably continue to profit and students will continue to throw something that has the same quality of feces in their gullet. Am I the only one who remembers the Taco Bell “diet?” It is a laugh to think about. Just stop eating it.
— Stephen Barry, First-year broadcast journalism student
Yeah, I definitely didn’t need the FDA to tell me that Taco Bell’s beef isn’t 100 percent beef. Have you not tasted the Russell House’s Taco Bell offerings lately? I enjoy tacos just as much as the next person, but I’m willing to pay a few more dollars to get the real deal. Taco Bell? I’ll pass.
— Hakeem Jefferson, fourth-year political science and African-American studies student
When most people go to Taco Bell, they know they aren’t getting 100 percent beef. 100 percent beef costs more than a 99-cent taco and tastes better than dog food. I don’t think the quality of meat will stop consumers from eating at Taco Bell. The typical Taco Bell customer wants cheap food and lots of it. Quantity is a greater concern that quality.
— Kristyn Winch, second-year print journalism student
It’s not that complicated. They should just pay the fine because they’re obviously at fault, and then start labeling their products properly. Will this lose them business? Yes, but only in the short run. Let’s face it — this is America, and eating processed foods is what we do habitually. They’re not going to be in an economic slump for long. Will I stop eating there? No way. So what if Taco Hell serves fake beef? So does every other fast food chain out there.
— Alice Chang, first-year international business student
