Taco Bell Gets Slapped with A Class Action Suit Over False Advertising
A New York man has filed a class action suit against Taco Bell in Brooklyn Federal court over claims that the fast-food chain deceived customers with its advertising practices.
Frank Siragusa is alleging that the Mexican Pizza, Veggie Mexican Pizza, Crunchwrap Supreme, Grande Crunchwrap, and Vegan Crunchwrap, purchased at a Taco Bell outlet in New York City last September, contained only half of the beef and bean filling depicted in the advertisements. He argues that the ads falsely portrayed the products as having “at least double” the actual content.
The plaintiff supported his claims with side-by-side comparisons of the advertised items overflowing with beef, cheese, and colorful vegetables, alongside photos posted by other customers showing smaller and less vibrant portions.
According to the complaint, Taco Bell’s advertising practices are “unfair and financially damaging to consumers,” which is particularly concerning “now that inflation, food, and meat prices are very high and many consumers, especially lower-income consumers, are struggling financially.”
The lawsuit is seeking compensation of at least $5 million for all Taco Bell customers who bought the aforementioned items in New York state over the past three years. It notes that Siragusa is not alleging that the products contain less content than stated on Taco Bell’s website.
One of Siragusa’s lawyers, Anthony Russo, emphasized that Taco Bell fails to adequately disclose the weight of the beef or filling in its products, and consumers often make purchases solely based on the visually enticing pictures presented in advertisements.
This is not the first time that Siragusa’s lawyers have taken legal action against fast-food chains over alleged misleading advertising practices. According to a Reuters report, a similar lawsuit involving McDonald’s and Wendy’s is still pending in Brooklyn, while a case against Burger King in Miami reached an impasse during mediation.
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