Summarize the Taco Bell “seasoned beef” crisis. How did the company use both issues management and crisis communication to avoid a PR disaster?

What will be an ideal response?


Taco Bell was sued over the contents of its signature menu item and the meat used in its tacos. The lawsuit alleged that the company’s “seasoned beef” contained only 35% beef and that Taco Bell was lying in its advertising, which claimed the ingredients were all beef. Due to issues management, Taco Bell was prepared for such a situation via its ongoing monitoring of consumer comments and had a litigation response protocol already in place. Taco Bell responded aggressively and explicitly declared the claims false and shared its percentages along with the ingredients in the secret recipe itself. The company quickly fired up a multi-platform PR campaign to shoot down the allegations and get the word out about its not-so-secret recipe. It included traditional local market newspapers but also focused on online outreach with a YouTube channel, dedicated Facebook page, and more--online, in store, and in the traditional media.

Communication & Mass Media

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What will be an ideal response?

Communication & Mass Media

The federal Trademark Act of 1946 is also referred to as the

a. Commerce Act. b. Fair Return Act. c. Business Rights Act. d. Lanham Act.

Communication & Mass Media

Which of the following speeches is the best example of

a special occasion speech? a. oral report on the United Nations b. after-dinner speech at banquet c. candidate's speech at a rally d. sales presentation

Communication & Mass Media

When you are acting as the moderator of a forum, you should NOT

A. let the audience of the public presentation (e.g., symposium, panel) know that the forum will follow the presentation. B. assume that everyone knows the rules of a forum. C. make sure that a diversity of opinions and views get heard. D. offer a brief summary of the proceedings at the end of the forum. E. let the audience know when the forum will end.

Communication & Mass Media