USDA Decision on Pink Slime Doesn't Go Far Enough

Press Release

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said the Obama Administration's decision to allow schools to opt out of buying a manufactured meat product called "pink slime" doesn't go far enough and repeated her call for an outright ban in using the substance in school lunches.

"This really shouldn't be complicated," Pingree said. "What we really need is an outright ban on serving pink slime in school lunches and I doubt you'd find too many families in America who think their kids need to have the option to keep eating the stuff."

Yesterday Pingree wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, asking him to immediately ban the use of the product in school lunches. Today the Obama Administration announced that they would give schools the option of buying two kinds of ground beef from the USDA--one with pink slime and one without.

"It's wrong to feed children a slurry that was formerly only used for dog food. I hope you will do everything in your power to eliminate it from school lunch programsaround the country," Pingree wrote. (Letter attached)

Recently, the U. S. Department of Agriculture authorized the purchase of 7 million pounds of the substance, called 'finely textured lean beef trimmings' by the beef industry, to be used in school lunches. The product is made from beef scraps and treated with ammonia.

Pingree said she's heard from people all over the country about pink slime being served to kids in schools.

"Without exception, people are shocked and disgusted to hear this stuff is being served in our schools and most people think it can't be banned soon enough," Pingree said.

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