Questions and Answers about Pink Slime What is the substance known as “pink slime?” “Pink slime” is the media’s nickname for lean finely textured beef, which is made of beef trimmings and treated with ammonium hydroxide to ensure its safety. It has been part of the beef sold in grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals and the National School Lunch Program for almost two decades. It is low in fat and high in protein and has been approved by the USDA for use in a number of products. Because it is made entirely of beef, it is not listed as a separate ingredient in beef. Has the Park Hill School District ever served any beef with lean finely textured beef in it? It is hard to give a definite answer. When Park Hill started getting questions about lean finely textured beef, we contacted the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), which is the organization that handles our state’s commodities program for the schools. At first, they let us know that we did not receive beef from Beef Processors, Inc., the company known to use this product in its beef. However, after further research, we discovered that many companies purchase this finely textured beef and add it to their beef in accordance with USDA specifications – no more than 15 percent can be added to fine ground beef and no more than 10 percent to course ground beef. Because it is all beef, lean finely textured beef is not specified on the label. It is therefore difficult to guarantee that there was no lean finely textured beef distributed in Missouri’s commodities program. Can we avoid lean finely textured beef in the future? DESE assured Park Hill that starting with the 2012-2013 school year, we would be able to purchase beef that is guaranteed not to include any lean finely textured beef. Park Hill will choose this new beef as soon as it is available
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 20:15:03 +0000
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