Report: Safeway, Giant to Remove 'Pink Slime' Beef from Stores
Beef producers have maintained that finely textured beef, or pink slime, is safe to eat.
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Joining other grocery chains, Safeway and Giant, two of Maryland's biggest grocers, announced this week that they will no longer sell "pink slime" beef, The Baltimore Sun reports.
Finely textured beef, or "pink slime," is made from meat scraps that are disinfected with a microbe killer like ammonia, according to the Los Angeles Times. Beef producers aren't required to list ammonia on the food label.
The product passes federal food regulations and the beef industry and grocers have said that it is safe to eat.
Dundalk has one Giant on Merritt Boulevard.
The closest Safeway is on Boston Street in Canton.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave schools lists of pink slime suppliers so they could choose if they wanted to buy the beef.
Wal-Mart and other grocers have also announced plans to stop selling finely textured beef.
Giant released this statement on March 22:
Giant Food of Landover, MD, today announced that it will no longer purchase fresh ground beef containing finely textured beef. While USDA, the Department of Agriculture, has indicated this product is safe for consumption and complies with all applicable standards for lean beef, many of our customers voiced concern regarding Finely Textured Beef. We value the trusted relationship we have with our customers and their feedback on the issue. Giant Food will continue to communicate openly with our customers and stands by the quality, safety and compliance of all products we sell.
Safeway released this statement:
Safeway is committed to providing our customers with the highest-quality products. While the USDA and food industry experts agree that lean finely textured beef is safe and wholesome, recent news stories have caused considerable consumer concern about this product. Safeway will no longer purchase ground beef containing lean finely textured beef.
Does removing "pink slime" beef make you feel safer? Tell us in the comments.
fred
8:21 pm on Friday, March 23, 2012
no, if you are worried about it stop eating hot dogs. chicken nuggets and burgers at most fast food resteraunts. this type of filler has been around since the early 90's. while it may not be good its no worse than the others mentioned.
Computer Techy
7:42 am on Saturday, March 24, 2012
Recently the unrestricted approval of Round-Up Ready alfalfa, the legal battles around sugar beets, and the pending approval of genetically engineered (GE) salmon have brought the uncertainties, dangers and influence of such technology back into focus, renewing discussions about how to protect ourselves and our future.
Did you know that 27 countries of the European Union plus 31 other countries have laws and/or regulations about labeling GE crops and food products? Only four countries of those with labeling laws allow voluntary labeling. The remaining countries require mandatory labeling, which requires all or parts of the supply chain to label raw agricultural ingredients or finished food products with a phrase or mark that indicates that the product may contain, contains, or is derived from genetically engineered crops.
It apparent that these big corporate giants that are pushing this toxic poison on us are controlling our USDA and the FDA for that matter. Some of the top appointed people came right from the companies that produce these toxic foods and deadly pharmaceuticals. People need to speak up and demand accountability.
Buzz Beeler
12:44 am on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Writing comments and a blog is becoming as dangerous as eating.
"Pink Slime," heck, for me that would be a complement compared to some of the other adjectives, verbs and nouns I've been called.