Schools Will Get To Opt Out Of ‘Pink Slime’ Beef
The Agriculture Department says that starting next fall, schools can stop feeding students a common ammonia-treated ground beef filler dubbed "pink slime" by critics.
The department says it will give school systems a choice of beef patties made with the lean finely textured filler, or less lean bulk ground beef without it.
Concern about the ammonia-treated filler exploded last week as a social media topic. The Agriculture Department says the filler is safe. But it says it wants to be responsive to schools that want a choice.
The low-cost filler is heated and processed so most of the fat is removed before it is compressed into blocks for use in ground meat. It is exposed to a "puff of ammonia hydroxide gas" to kill bacteria.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)