While fast food isn't typically the healthiest option, sometimes it is necessary when you are on the go. For this reason, our Food on the Run series attempts to provide you with helpful information to make nutrient wise choices when eating away from home.

Last week there was a firestorm of news stories about a lawsuit against Taco Bell. Apparently, an Alabama law firm filed a class action suit claiming false advertising. While Taco Bell states their tacos are filled with "seasoned ground beef," the lawsuit contends they should be using the term "taco meat filling" instead. With news stories of this nature, what are consumers to think?

Lawsuits can be successful and influential tools that create change as seen by the recent lawsuit against McDonald's Happy Meal toys. In this case it seems the law firm had the meat mixture analyzed and found a variety of other ingredients they call fillers, binders and extenders that caused them to file the suit. Many of the news articles have cited the United States Department of Agriculture definition that "ground beef can have seasonings, but no water, phosphates, extenders, or binders added." However, these standards are related to the packaging and retail sales of meat and not to its preparation and use in food. The lawsuit isn't seeking monetary rewards but simply seeks the mandate of full disclosure of what is in Taco Bell's seasoned beef.

Taco Bell has this list of ingredients for their seasoned ground beef on their website. "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." They have also clearly stated on their website, "Our beef is 100% USDA inspected, just like the quality beef you would buy in a supermarket and prepare in your home. It then is slow-cooked and simmered with proprietary seasonings and spices to provide Taco Bell's signature taste and texture. Our seasoned beef recipe contains 88% quality USDA-inspected beef and 12% seasonings, spices, water and other ingredients that provide taste, texture and moisture. Our seasoned beef contains no "extenders" to add volume, as some might use." They have even taken out a full-page ad and posted a YouTube video response all in an attempt to openly share information in order to preserve their brand.

The Bottom Line

It will be interesting to follow this story to see where it goes. It will also be interesting to see how the lawsuit turns out. Perhaps it will bring attention to the fast food industry and its use of food additives. Maybe it will do nothing more than cause people to take notice of what they are eating and make a shift in their fast food behavior. Regardless of how the lawsuit turns out, being aware of what you put in your body is always a good recommendation and would be a terrific outcome of this news story.

The best way to know what you are eating is to make it yourself. When it comes to making your own seasoned ground beef, select ground meat from a local grocery store meat department or butcher. You can also grind your own from a purchased cut of lean meat. Use a combination of seasonings such as chili powder, paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder and onion powder to create lean and tasty seasoned ground beef for your favorite Tex-Mex recipe. When it comes to eating away from home, here are a few things you may also want to keep in mind.

• Check restaurant nutrition and ingredient information before visiting whenever possible to help you make an informed decision.
  
• Reserve visits to restaurants for special occasions or while traveling so you are only frequenting occasionally.
  
• When possible select nutrition minded and popular local restaurants over nationwide chain restaurants. This increases the likelihood of receiving wholesome products although it certainly doesn't guarantee it.

Does news like this make you take a closer look at what you eat? What are your favorite Tex-Mex recipes that you make at home?