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Taco Bell Agrees to Pull Ad After Group Complains It Sends Wrong Message About Veggies

Jan. 28, 2013 10:30pm Becket Adams

Taco Bell agreed to pull a 15-second TV ad after a health advocacy group complained that it sent the wrong message about vegetables.

Taco Bell Agrees to Pull Ad After Center for Science in the Public Interest Complains

No, we’re not making this up.

Touting the company’s variety 12-pack of tacos, the ad features a voiceover saying that bringing a vegetable tray to a party is “like punting on fourth and one.”

“It’s a cop-out and secretly, people kind of hate you for it,” the ad’s narrator says (Fact-check: We rate this comment 100 percent true).

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a health advocacy group, wasn’t keen on the ad’s joke and urged people over the weekend to tweet their complaints.

“It’s bad enough that there aren’t many ads on television for broccoli, kale, or carrots,” the group said. “The last thing healthy fruits and vegetables needed was to be the subject of attack ads.”

Taco Bell agreed to pull the ad.

“We didn’t want anyone to misinterpret the intent of the ad,” Taco Bell spokesman Rob Poetsch told Seattle PI.

The vegetable defense league was thrilled with the news.

“We are delighted that Taco Bell is pulling an ad that urged people not to bring veggie trays to their Super Bowl parties, but to instead bring 12-packs of Taco Bell’s tacos,” the Center for Science in the Public said in a statement

“Thanks to Taco Bell for responding with record speed to address nutritionists’ and consumers’ concern over this ad campaign,” the group said.

Here’s the offending ad [h/t Business Insider]:

Exit Question: Is it just us or does showing up to a party with a bag of fast food sound like the behavior of a drunk person?

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Comments (88)

piper60
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:00am
cave, baby, cave.

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- SpankDaMonkey
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 11:26am
  .
  WTF Tacos have Veggies……
  
  As a matter of fact Tacos are a Food Pyrimid all by themselves…………
  
  Report this comment
Suzanne Winter
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:04am
When are PRIVATELY OWNED companies going to stand up for themselves, and their advertising strategies, and tell these “advocacy groups” to hit the road?

Every time this kind of thing happens, I think of the person at the PRIVATELY OWNED company, the spineless nothing, cowering in their chair, and deciding to allow their company to be bullied by so-called do-gooders (that are most often bona fide eco-terrorists).

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- Steverino
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:35am
  Suzanne – If I’m not mistaken, Taco Bell is a publicly traded corporation. Run by a bunch of shrinking violet weenies, apparently.
  
  Report this comment
- Kupo
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 4:07am
  Don’t be so melodramatic. It’s not like there was a lawsuit being brought against Taco Bell or even any demands being made. It was simply a request from a concerned party that Taco Bell, upon reflection, agreed with.
  
  Report this comment
- taxx
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 4:43am
  I guess those corpulent drivers waiting patiently in the drive-thru will now be saved. If they had eaten one more taco it could have been disastrous. Thank goodness they won’t be subjected to a commercial that targets vegetables in such a despicable way. psst….just stay away from the kool-aid.
  
  Report this comment
- lthm
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 5:57am
  It’s going to take having rational people stand up to them and say “no.” Look at what McDonalds just did, paying off muslims because they didn’t serve sharia-compliant food. Taco Bell, pulling an ad under threat from veggie-activists. It’s insanity, and reasonable people need to start telling these companies to not give into the liberal insanity.
  
  You know who cares whether or not McDonalds food is sharia-compliant? No one. You know who cares if Taco Bell advertises that their tacos are better to bring to a party than veggies? No one.
  
  But these tiny, offshoot groups threaten to make a big deal out of nothing, and the companies are so worried about appearing insensitive, they roll right over. We’re a nation of pansies who are afraid to stand up for reality. We’ve been rolling over and letting the crazies run wild for decades now, and it needs to stop. We need more companies like Chick-fil-a and Hobby Lobby who are willing to stand up for their principles and do the right thing no matter what the leftists think of them. And rational people need to stand behind those companies, let them know that we appreciate it their efforts to bring a little bit of common sense back to the United States of America.
  
  Report this comment
- decendentof56
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 8:19am
  @KURO….
  They should have reflected….and left the ad alone!
  You DO realize that every time a company or individual backs down to anyone who is offended about anything and…believe me…we’ve seen in recent years that someone WILL be offended by anything, that you will eventually wake up to the realization that you will have little you can say.
  
  This kind of nonsense is part of the strategy to neuter America. Chick Fil-A (Boston’s mayor?), Boy Scouts accepting gay scouts , gay “marriage”, late-term and even the talk now of after birth abortion, women in combat, U of Minn/Duluth’s “white privlidge” campaign, Sustainable Development (who couldn’t be for that, come on), a President who launches his Sen. campaign at a terrorists’ home, or one who appoints a communist to be a “green jobs” czar.
  
  America has, apparently, accepted all these things without a wimper. I mean…they do kind of seem reasonable, right? What we have appears to be a sort of “fundamental transformation”, is it not?
  
  Report this comment
- sta
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 11:25am
  McDonald’s paid because they advertised Halal meat and it wasn’t.
  Same as if they advertised Kosher meat and it wasn’t.
  
  It was the advertising, not the food.
  
  Report this comment
- Kupo
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 4:42pm
  Decendent –
  
  Not disagreeing with you. I just disagree with the OP’s supposition that there was any bullying going on.
  
  Report this comment
N37BU6
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:48am
“The last thing healthy fruits and vegetables needed was to be the subject of attack ads.”

Attack ads.

Maybe WW III wouldn’t be such a bad thing… we need a reset ASAP. Global thermonuclear war sounds like a better alternative than living with this increasingly insane, creepy, whining, weak population.

Bring it on. I’ll be standing on my roof.

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- DREDGE
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 5:38am
  Well stated!!! Enough crap! Who twists your arm to buy anything?
  Are we all that stupid to live by tv commercials? Where are these groups
  banning all the junk meds on tv?
  
  Report this comment
Jake Dog2
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:34am
Taco Bell Agrees to Pull Ad After Group Complains It Sends Wrong Message About Veggies: Another company Kowtowing to the food gestapo.

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- 19RANDY59
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:54am
  This country has way to many Fa@@ots
  
  Report this comment
- RepubliCorp
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:45am
  waiting for the “ethical treatment of veggies”
  
  Report this comment
NapTimezOver
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:59pm
Seriously? There’s a vegetable defense league? Can Robert Downey Jr. play the carrot? Good Lord I hope our tax dollars is not paying for this crap/

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0317
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:33pm
I want the Taco Bell Chihuahua back he wasn’t afraid of anything……here leezard leezard leezard!

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- CatB
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:47pm
  Chihuahua’s don’t back down .. check out my avatar .. Callie cruising in her car seat in the convertible.
  
  Report this comment
- Jake Dog2
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:45am
  What!! Jake would think you just gave him a small snack with tthat runt dog.
  
  Report this comment
- Jake Dog2
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:53am
  Now Callie is a different story. She looks cute and I’m sure Jake would like to take her for a ride in his convertible
  
  Report this comment
trmkc
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:24pm
People and companies are continually caving to the Politically Correct Police. I say hold your ground and forget about the PC. It drives them crazy when you ignore them.

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- DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:28pm
  Some of those Super Bowl commercials walk the line of offensive and they get away with it, what was different here?
  
  Report this comment
TotallyNotATroll
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:24pm
Vegans suck, every time they whine I eat a meal of all meat.

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- Capt_Gregg
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 8:15am
  I’ve attended a few PETA rallies. It drives them crazy to see me wandering through the crowd while ostentatiously munching on a Big Mac.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 8:44am
  Vegetables are delicious if they’ve been sauteed in beef fat!
  
  Report this comment
- THX-1138
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:36pm
  This vegetarian, Buddhist can punch holes in quarters at 100 yards with his Model 700 .223 and drives a retired state trooper car with a big, fat Ford V8 after Bowling a 180 and with Ted Nugent playing way too loud in the background.
  
  Just sayin…
  
  Report this comment
freedomisasfreedomdoes
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:21pm
fruits and vegetables needed was to be the subject of attack ads..

lol. Are fruits and veggies everywhere offended? Diving off the sides of plates and tables ending their existence bc they just can’t take the harsh cruel world? So glad there is an advocacy group for fruits and veggies its about time someone stood up for them. They have been left out in the cold and in the dirt for way too long. Is this for real?

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DeVain
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:18pm
“The vegetable defense league was thrilled with the news.”

wait…what!?!?!??!

There’s a vegetable defense league?

lmmfao!!!!

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- DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:31pm
  It’s a community organizer type group funded by shovel ready jobs programs.
  Gotta give your friends & political supporters money somehow.
  
  Report this comment
mandmsgirl
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:18pm
I’m a vegetarian, I’m all for vegetables but I think this is so dumb it’s incredible

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- THX-1138
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:30pm
  Big Giant Ditto. Vegetarians, most of us, gave up meat; not our sense of humor and tolerance…
  
  Report this comment
TeslanEdison
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:09pm
The first lady was offended, so Obama threatens to sick the IRS on them, too many big corporations capitulating to minority groups. I’d eat Taco bell but it’s made me sick so many times, it’s more like run to the toilet than the border. Yeah veggie trays are lame at Superbowl parties, somebody please pit up a pig or do a Texas style brisket or two. There are some veggy dips key lime oriented that are somewhat addictive but they are more sourcream than veggy. You eat those with a huge tortilla chips steam shovel style. So if someone can reliably fast food slow roasted organic meats for a good deal they would be billionaires.

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- DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:24pm
  Oh she complains but I’d bet they’ve eaten $10MM worth of pigs in a pit on those Hawaiian vacations.
  Tacos not her ethnic food though, you know she said she loves French fries. Veggies be the food the little people need to eat.
  I really only watch the Super Bowl for the commercials anymore, I don’t find the divas on the field to be entertaining at all. How PC does every business have to be not to be attacked on social media by these groups wanting to control your business with mob rule?
  When we go to the Super Bowl party on Sunday we are bringing homemade chili. We’d be laughed out the door if we brought a veggie tray! And prolly not invited next year!
  
  Report this comment
Tigress1
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:08pm
Who eats tacos or veggie trays at a Superbowl party? Most men I know eat PIZZA!

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- CatB
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:17pm
  Or buffalo wings .. or buffalo pizza .. chili … Last thing I would take would be Taco Bell ;-)
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:22pm
  Wings, the hotter the better. But I would settle for tacos or pizza too.
  
  Report this comment
- DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:27pm
  @catb
  Hey we’re bringing the chili…
  Not to brag since we don’t make the chili cook off circuit, but we will be welcome with our dish. Veggie tray might get the door slammed in our face.
  
  Report this comment
- AmericanStrega
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 10:45am
  One item on our list this year is Bacon Wrapped Lil’ Smokies in brown sugar sauce. We’re also making bacon wrapped jalapino poppers.
  
  Report this comment
CatB
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:05pm
Ummmm … those tacos have LETTUCE in them .. last I looked that was a veggie .. some might even get a piece of tomato or two .. and then you have the taco sauce which is tomato based .. just because you don’t bring a veggie tray doesn’t mean you are veggie free .. WHAT A JOKE.

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- oldguy49
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:11pm
  company’s and people keep rolling over to these idiots and soon they will not be free to advertise or anything without going thru the propaganda ministry…………
  
  Report this comment
- CatB
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:19pm
  Agree OLD … and then the only one’s eating what they want are the elites .. like M.O. and her Kobe beef and lobster and anything else SHE wants. Remember seeing her shoveling it in last week ;-)
  
  Report this comment
- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:22pm
  CATB: A 7 layer burrito (one of my favorites) has no meat. And I loved that commercial….hmmmm…..a tasty taco or 2, or a carrot stick………I will be like Anne Heche, I will choose the taco.
  
  Report this comment
Leveraction3030
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:05pm
Taco Bell does not serve meat so why would they take down the add? They serve garbage I would not feed to my hogs. People need to wake up regarding the BS organizations from the left.
The teens and college kids that eat this crap are mostly lib wackos to begin with. The stoners do not care what they are eating when the munchies hit at two in the morning. Hell we should all be for Taco Bell. If we are lucky most of their liberal customers would be gone from the heart attack anyway. Less Ofurher voters down the road..

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- CatB
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:15pm
  Yes .. I agree with all you said .. the only thing I ever get at a Taco Bell is a drink through the drive thru.
  
  Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:01pm
From above:
Touting the company’s variety 12-pack of tacos, the ad features a voice over saying that bringing a vegetable tray to a party is “like punting on fourth and one.”
Damn skippy! If you want to be vegan like Hitler, by all means go ahead, but don’t act like Hitler to the rest of us because we want a ‘treat’ during a football game.

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HotFixIt
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:53pm
You mean veggies need their own defense league.. you have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!! … and they actually caved to them??? I am doubly dumbfounded! Instead of complaining… why didn’t they just put on an opposing add encouraging people to bring veggies to the party!? This is absolutely INSANE! Bring on the Taco Bell… or at least it would have been a good idea if they had not given in so easily.

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theBru
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:52pm
Maybe us white-winged terrorists should ask them to stop any and all ads about gun control, as they are sure hurting our feelings…

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banjarmon
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:46pm
The meat I eat once ate their veggies …SO BRING ON THE BBQ!!!!!

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:58pm
  LOL, that is what my son says.
  
  Report this comment
- Wolfgang the Gray
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:16pm
  Vegetables are what food eats and fish are fast vegetables.
  
  I like Taco Bell now and then and I’m not a left-wing liberal wacko. I eat vegetables too. I also eat steak, which doctors & Obamacare nuts say is terrible for me. I’m not going to live in a socialist, 1984-inspired world where the government tells me what to eat, where to work, what to do, & what to think! I will stand tall for my liberty and if I’m hold a taco while I do it, what business is it of yours?
  
  Report this comment
- DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:36pm
  @wolfgang
  Your avatar holding a taco…. What’s wrong with this picture?
  
  Report this comment
Country_of_Arizona
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:45pm
Whaaaaa duh hellllll Who is this vegetable defense league anyway–TacKOO Bellll there’s no meat either but who cares. Put it back on and tell those cooks find a job> It’s great hangover remedy.

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- MisterSarcastic
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:05pm
  They’re a group of elites who think they’re smarter the you and me. That we should eat the way they want us to eat. Food should be grown and processed the way they want it. In other words, the Food Police.
  
  Report this comment
OldNGrumpy
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:42pm
Now Taco Bell is caving to the food police. They should told them to pound sand.

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Cavallo
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:42pm
Subtext, We didn’t realize how many sackless limp wristed people would be upset.

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- civilwarcometh
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:52pm
  Nope no idea…http://www.fox19.com/story/20718582/man-arrested-for-endangering-child-in-facebook-photo
  
  Report this comment
civilwarcometh
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:41pm
Obama goes on 60 min. because he knows they got his back. Hmm they didn’t do that for Busch…http://weaselzippers.us/2013/01/28/steve-kroft-on-his-pathetic-softball-interview-with-obama-he-knows-were-not-going-to-play-gotcha-with-him-wont-make-him-look-bad-or-stupid/

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:06pm
  “Steve Kroft On His Pathetic Softball Interview With Obama: “He Knows We’re Not Going To Play Gotcha With Him,” Won’t Make “Him Look Bad Or Stupid”…”
  SOFTBALL INTERVIEW? That interview was softer than a Nerf Ball!
  
  Report this comment
- MisterSarcastic
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:20pm
  …softer than warm butter…
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 9:35am
  Softer than encidiot at an NRA roundup.
  
  Report this comment
Shasta
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:38pm
people need to lighten up and get a friggin life.

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- sta
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 11:27am
  Seriously.
  I’ve had tons of parties. The KFC goes well before the veggie dips.
  
  Report this comment
civilwarcometh
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:35pm
So they hurt the feelings of carrots and broccoli and had to take the ad down???

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- Verceofreason
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:39pm
  Guess YOU complained. Wink wink.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 10:56pm
  CIVILWARCOMETH, Bud, watch out when DORA_GASBAG/CHARLES116/VERCEOFREASON winks at you. You could come down with something rather serious.
  Hey DORA, where is your buddy TROLLMONGER? Twink, twink.
  
  Report this comment
- MisterSarcastic
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:10pm
  True. Wango told me Gasbag will put something on you Ajax won’t take off.
  
  Report this comment
- civilwarcometh
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 11:31pm
  It’s ok i get prepared before coming on the blaze and confronting the trolls lol.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YFC0O393DQ
  
  Report this comment
- Verceofreason
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:14am
  The issue is why those fine folks accounts keep getting blocked.
  It should REALLY disturb you ‘freedom loving’ patriots.
  As I’ve repeted – some folks can’t handle the truth.
  And you missed a few other blocked accounts.
  
  Report this comment

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