BROOKLYN (CN) — A class action suit filed Monday against Taco Bell accuses the “Live Más” chain of drastically shorting customers on the advertised amount of meat and beans filling its Crunchwraps and other menu items.
According to a 15-page complaint brought in the Eastern District of New York, Taco Bell advertisements exaggerate the quantity of meat and meat-alternative ingredients contained in the beef and vegan versions of its Crunchwrap Supreme and Mexican Pizza products “by at least double the amount.”
New York attorney James C. Kelly and Florida-based lawyer Anthony Russo represent the unsatisfied customers in the proposed class action complaint alleging two violations of New York Deceptive Acts and Practices Act.
The suit's named plaintiff is New Yorker Frank Siragusa, who purchased a Mexican pizza in Ridgewood, Queens, for $5.49 that contained approximately half of the seasoned beef and bean filling that he expected from advertisements and marketing.
“Taco Bell advertises larger portions of food to steer consumers to their restaurants for their meals and away from competitors that more fairly advertise the size of their menu items, unfairly diverting millions of dollars in sales that would have gone to competitors,” the complaint states.
The suit seeks at least $5 million in damages from Taco Ball, which is headquartered in Irvine in Orange County, California.
“Taco Bell’s actions are especially concerning now that inflation, food, and meat prices are very high and many consumers, especially lower income consumers, are struggling financially,” the complaint states.
Representatives for Taco Bell did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday afternoon.
It is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, which also owns KFC and Pizza Hut. Yum! has more outlets than any other fast-food chain in the world — more than 55,000 restaurants in over 155 countries and territories.
The civil complaint references other consumers’ similarly disappointed experiences posted online, including a YouTube video titled “Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza Is Not The Same” and a Reddit message board thread titled “Crunch Wraps are a joke nowadays.”
Kelly and Russo previously sued McDonald's and Wendy's over hamburger patty sizes, similarly citing various food reviews on YouTube.
A 2011 class action suit in California Superior Court accused the company of deceptively advertising its meat products and failing to tell customers the meat mixture “consists mostly of non-meat substances such as extenders and binders.”
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