The Blubber

Frank Siragusa was dissatisfied with his purchase of a Mexican Pizza from a Taco Bell in New York City last September. He paid $5.49 for it but found that the beef and bean filling inside appeared to be only half of what was shown in the chain's advertising. As a result, he decided to take legal action against Taco Bell.

In a proposed class action filed in Brooklyn federal court on Monday, Siragusa accused Taco Bell of deceptive advertising. He claimed that the Mexican Pizza, Veggie Mexican Pizza, Crunchwrap Supreme, Grande Crunchwrap, and Vegan Crunchwrap were advertised as containing "at least double" their actual content.

To support his case, Siragusa included photos of food in advertisements bursting with beef, cheese, and colorful vegetables, contrasting them with "actual" photos from other customers that depicted smaller and less vibrant portions.

According to the complaint, Taco Bell's misleading ads are not only unfair to consumers but also financially harmful, particularly given the current high inflation, food, and meat prices, which disproportionately affect lower-income consumers who are already struggling financially.

The lawsuit aims to secure a minimum of $5 million in compensation for Taco Bell customers who purchased the five items in New York state over the last three years. It's important to note that Siragusa's claim is not about the items containing less content than what is described on Taco Bell's website.

As of now, Taco Bell, which is a part of Yum Brands (YUM.N), has not responded to requests for comment.

It is worth mentioning that in the previous year, one of Siragusa's lawyers filed another ongoing lawsuit in Brooklyn against McDonald's (MCD.N) and Wendy's (WEN.O) for discrepancies between the actual and advertised size of their burgers.