Taco Bell reveals ingredients in mystery beef

Ever since Taco Bell released a statement in 2011 to say its beef is 88 percent beef, not 36 percent, as a lawsuit accused, the public has been left wondering: What’s in the other 12 percent?

Wonder no longer, kind of. Taco Bell has posted a somewhat-vague explanation of the other 12 percent on its website, detailing the “completely safe and approved by the FDA” ingredients that are “also found in food items at your grocery store.”

The ingredient explainer says the company recognizes some of the ingredients have “weird names” that are “perfect for tongue twisters,” but says the extra ingredients are there for taste.

Taco Bell was scrutinized in 2011 for its “Taco Meat Filling” after an Alabama-based law firm filed a suit against Taco Bell claiming that the company was falsely advertising its taco filling as beef when in fact, it was only 36 percent beef.

The case was dismissed when Taco Bell clarified that its filling is 88 percent beef, above the 40 percent fresh meat required to call something taco filling.

Here are some of the ingredients, with Taco Bell’s explanations:

Trehalose

“It’s a naturally occurring sugar that we use to improve the taste of our seasoned beef,” according to Taco Bell.

Soy Lecithin

It helps (with moisture) to bind substances that would otherwise separate - like oil and water,” Taco Bell says. “It’s a common ingredient in many grocery staples, like chocolate bars and salad dressings.”

Cellulose

“Cellulose is a safe carbohydrate found in the cell walls of plants and helps with water and oil binding,” according to Taco Bell. “You’ll find it in everything from cheese and vitamins to bread and pasta.”

Potassium Chloride

“We actually used it to help reduce the amount of salt used in our seasoned beef recipe, which is part of our ongoing effort to reduce sodium levels in our ingredients while still delivering the same great taste you expect from us,” Taco Bell says.

Maltodextrin

Taco Bell: “It sounds weird, but it’s actually a form of mildly sweet sugar we use to balance the flavor. You may have had it the last time you had a natural soda.”

In more pronounceable territory, there’s a small amount of oats that help the beef stay moist and caramel coloring and cocoa powder for coloring.

Contact Stephanie Grimes at sgrimes@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @stephgrimes