NEWS FLASH: A Burrito is Not a Sandwich, Judge Rules

You'll no longer have to get into those lengthy philosophical arguments with your friends over whether a burrito is a sandwich or not. A Massachusetts judge has ruled that the Mexican specialty is NOT a sandwich after all.

The subject came up when the Panera bakery/cafe chain sued to prevent Qdoba Mexican Grill from opening a restaurant in a shopping center in Shrewsbury, Mass. Panera has a clause in its lease that prevents the shopping center from renting space to another sandwich shop, and it tried to invoke the clause to stop Qdoba.

Superior court judge Jeffrey Locke relied on sources including Webster's Dictionary and testimony from a chef and a former federal agriculture official to rule that burritos and other Qdoba menu items are not sandwiches. He noted that sandwiches are commonly understood to include two slices of bread and not items such as burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and other foods made from a single tortilla stuffed with filling.

Glad that's been cleared up so I can go out to lunch with a clear conscience about what I'm eating.