Taco Bell Sauce Packets Become New Hot Spot for (Left wing messages)

Taco Bell Press release ^ | 5/19/04 | Unknown

[Blood of Tyrants]

Irvine, CA--(HISPANIC PR WIRE - BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 2004--Taco Bell(R) is giving customers a taste of fame by publishing their "words of wisdom" on the nearly 5 billion sauce packets distributed to restaurants each year, in the company's Share Your Sauce Wisdom national contest launching today. Up to 12 customers will be selected to have their Taco Bell-inspired sayings on sauce packets in Taco Bell(R) restaurants nationwide and will receive a one-year supply of free food.

"We're putting our customers' words on the hottest place on the menu - our sauce packets," said Greg Creed, chief marketing officer, Taco Bell Corp. "This is a way for Taco Bell to recognize people who 'Think Outside the Bun' and help us deliver a bold dining experience everyday."

From May 19 to June 18, customers can enter the national contest by registering their "sauce wisdoms" at http://www.tacobell.com. Taco Bell defines a sauce wisdom as a humorous look at reality through the eyes of the Taco Bell brand. The message should be simple, left of center and provide insight on the little things in life - anything from going on a date to eating a meal -- and it should not exceed 70 characters. All sauce wisdoms will be judged according to humor, originality, length and suitability of use. For Official Rules and contest information, please visit http://www.tacobell.com.

There is no purchase necessary to enter. Open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, age 18 or older at time of entry. Customers can enter as often as they wish; however, each wisdom must be different.

Earlier this year, Taco Bell enhanced its sauce packets with humorous phrases. The new packaging launched with 15 different sayings on "Mild," "Hot," and "Fire" packets.

The sauce packets are available at Taco Bell(R) restaurants for no extra cost.

Following are a few examples:

-- Live life one sauce packet at a time

-- Use your stomach, nacho mind

-- Single Fire sauce seeking friendship, maybe more

-- Polly want a taco?

-- My other taco is a Chalupa

Taco Bell Corp., based in Irvine, is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc. and the nation's leading Mexican-style quick service restaurant chain serving tacos, burritos, signature Quesadillas, Border Bowls(R), nachos and other specialty items. Taco Bell(R) serves more than 35 million consumers each week in more than 6,500 restaurants in the United States. "Think Outside the Bun" and visit http://www.tacobell.com.

--30--ST/np*

CONTACT:
Taco Bell Corp., Irvine
Laurie Schalow or Sally George, 949-863-3915

[mewzilla]

Well, I ran this by Mr. Mew a little while ago. I met him for lunch at a very nice local Mexican restaurant, needless to say not Taco Bell :) Mr. Mew's my gauge for stuff like this. If it sets him off, then I know there's a problem. He's incredibly hard to annoy. This did in fact set him off. His attitude was if they can't be bothered to keep politics the heck out of their business, which is food after all, then they sure as heck don't want ours.

[k2blader]

How are those examples "left-wing" messages??

It's just a hot sauce packet, for crying out loud.

[Dane]

These are lame, but left wing?

They are irreverent. But still asking for "left of center" comments in a press release was not the best use of the modern American English lexicon.

It could be construed as being overtly political, in which I don't blame some people having qualms about the press release by Taco Bell.

[mewzilla]

Then why ask for left-of-center? Why not just ask for short, pithy, witty, amusing, droll, succinct, funny, sweet, sunny, etc. There are plenty of other adjectives available.

[k2blader]

That did strike me as a bit strange--I have no idea what that means, really.

But look at the specific examples cited. How are those "leftist"?

[Blood of Tyrants]

I have no idea. Others have suggested that they acutally meant "off-center" or "wacky".

[Dont Mention the War]

Seriously-their meaning here is not "left-wing liberal". Words and phrases in the English language can have multiple meanings. Some people here jerk their knees so hard they must hit themselves in the chin...

I agree. Also, I think this is the far greater crime:

Up to 12 customers will be selected to have their Taco Bell-inspired sayings on sauce packets in Taco Bell(R) restaurants nationwide and will receive a one-year supply of free food.

An entire year of Taco Bell? Ohhhhhh, my intestines are constricting already. Does it come with a one-year supply of Kaopectate too?

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I agree with you. I think they just chose poor words and really meant "corny" or a play on words.

The examples were nothing even hinting of political views.

[k2blader]

"Wacky" is probably what they meant.

I noticed the new packets a couple weeks ago while lunching at TB. Can't remember the exact phrase on one of them, but I do remember it made me laugh. I think that's all TB is aiming for here.

P.S. Remember that poll on the TB website during the Ahnold vs. Bustamante race? The left was P'd. :-)

[Pagey]

"I'm not a liberal, so I don't have an infinite grasp on things I know nothing about."-- P.J. O'Rourke

[Cronos]

Yeah, I could understand them being Left wing if it was KFC...

[sheik yerbouty]

Here's something they can put on the packets: "What is best in life?' To destroy the jihadists, to drive their leftist enablers before you and to hear the lamentations of their media!

[lewislynn]

When hungry I would stick a foil wrapped burrito between the jugs of the Harley.

When I think of putting things between jugs, foil wrapped burritos and Harley's don't come to mind.

[FreedomGuru]

Then why ask for left-of-center?

Some of you "freepers" need to log off and get a life. The term "left of center" does not bring up political thought in my world. There is more to life than politics. But if you want to see "leftists" in every corner that's your choice. BTW, Taco Bell has had many "left of center", "goofy", "humorous" promotions. Such as the target floating in the ocean, and if the satellite returning to earth hit it, everybody would get a free taco.

[Rebelbase]

This thread is a good example of people jumping in with their 2 cents based on reading the title of the article and the 1st comment.

IMO, everyone here who believes that TB meant "left of center" to be about politics is a fool.

[Gunrunner2]

I just called their customer service line.

The simple-brain I spoke with stated "left of center" means "outside the bun." When I pointed out it clearly implies a political agenda, she stated she knew that but that is not what they meant. Right. . .

I asked for her to forward my concerns to the appropriate leadership and she said she would pass word to her boss that she received a complaint about the website. . .that was all.

I insisted that she make clear the complaint is not against the website, but with their endorsement of a left-wing agenda. She was not inclined to do so. . .but to be honest, I think she was refusing because she didn't understand the situation and/or couldn't express my concern in written format.

No more Taco Bell.

[Gunrunner2]

Please see my post 137.

I called and the customer service lady did say the intent was not political, though the customer service representative did agree it could easily be seen as a political statement. . .she saw the political message as well, but she had no problem with it. (Kinda like saying, "I didn't mean what I said, and you should know that.") I find it very hard to believe the Taco Bell executives that approved this odd wording were NOT aware of the political over/under-tone. They simply couldn't be that dense.

If they did not include the "left of center" comment the promotion would be fine. . .the "left of center" comment INVITES political commentary and adds nothing to the explanation of what they are looking for.

[Dog Gone]

It is a constant puzzle to me how Taco Hell franchises can make money in New Mexico.

Ever try to find a taco in Mexico? Good luck.

[DBrow]

why the detriment?


Because "the Right" will make lots of statements about Taco Bell and so on, and taco bell and the media will make them look like fools- "everyone knows left-of-center means goofy, off the wall..."

[television is just wrong]

Just don't buy there.