What You Need To Know About “Pink Slime”

March 11, 2012 11:30 am     Posted in Body, Food, Health, Reality  Caitlin Corsetti g+ page


By Caitlin Corsetti

Beef…it’s what’s for dinner. Or so we thought. ABC News has been investigating the use of a meat filler called Boneless Lean Beef Trimmings, BLBT or pink slime, in seventy percent of ground beef. Oh yeah, and this pink slime is disinfected with ammonia and was previously only sold to cooking oil and dog food suppliers. Um, gross.

J. Patrick Boyle, president of the American Meat Institute, is defending this nasty stuff saying it “is a sustainable product because it recovers lean meat that would otherwise be wasted.” You won’t find a label on packages of ground beef that says it contains pink slime though, so how will you know? You won’t. Janet Riley, senior VP of public affairs for AMI stated, “What are you asking me to put on the label, its beef, it’s on the label, it’s a beef product, it’s says beef so we are declaring … it’s beef.” I personally would like to know if there’s an ammonia lined filler in my beef!

Former employees of Beef Products Inc. are saying that pink slime doesn’t even resemble beef at all, claiming “It kind of looks like Play-Doh.” How is this stuff made, you ask? Well, since it comes from the part of the cow that’s most susceptible to contamination, they simmer it in low heat until the fat and tissue separates and then it’s sprayed with ammonia. Yummy, right?!

What stores don’t use pink slime in their beef? Costco, Publix, H-E-B, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Tops Markets. Safeway and Ahold on the other hand, trust what the government says is safe. Now, there are tons of other grocery stores, and ABC only asked the top ten in the country. So maybe you should ask your grocery store if they use pink slime in their beef or not, I know I definitely will.

What do you think about pink slime? Do you feel like it’s safe? Are you extremely grossed out like I am?

Caitlin is a senior at the University of Alabama who has an obsession with cupcakes, coffee, and Harry Potter. She always has random fun facts on reserve and aspires to be a professional blogger,social media bug, and/or James Franco’s assistant. Follow her fabulous life @caitlincorsetti. You’re welcome!

15 Comments on "What You Need To Know About “Pink Slime”"

  1. Polly says:
    Sun, 11th Mar 201211:39 am 

    I am extremely grossed out. But on the positive side, my mom has been saying that I need to cut back on the ground beef now I think I finally found my motivation.

  2. Rae says:
    Sun, 11th Mar 20125:51 pm 

    I'm not worried since I haven't eaten meat in almost two years. It's pretty gross.

  3. Katie says:
    Mon, 12th Mar 20122:11 am 

    Gross! I avoid red meat most of the time, but I will occasionally go for a burger. It's sick seeing what this actually looks like though…I think I'll continue eating minimal amounts of it. I mostly eat fish or hummus, but I can't quite convert into a complete pescatarian/vegetarian.

  4. Captain says:
    Mon, 12th Mar 201212:20 pm 

    Thanks for naming names… I just wrote to Target (as my husband insists hamburgers be made from ground round – hard to get, but available at Target). We'll see what their answer is.

    When stores play games with our food, we need to name 'em.

  5. Garnet – Columbia University says:
    Mon, 12th Mar 20121:19 pm 

    Ugh. This makes me really glad that I don't eat much beef. But every once in a while I get a hamburger craving… might be rethinking that now.

  6. BlogDog says:
    Mon, 12th Mar 20127:51 pm 

    Buy steaks and a meat grinder. Fresh ground beef at your desire.

  7. pilgrimageofhealth says:
    Mon, 12th Mar 20128:45 pm 

    If you don't eat meat you don't risk pink slime!

  8. the dominator says:
    Tue, 13th Mar 20122:44 am 

    there is a perfectly good reason meat processing plants don't have guest tours or allow any photos or video either. they know perfectly well that 99% of all who actually saw the disgusting truth of what goes on in there- they would never eat another burger, hot dog etc.
    this is one of those ugly truths about the beef industry they don't want you to know about.

  9. rosieen says:
    Sun, 18th Mar 20129:40 pm 

    I realized now how secured you are being a vegan. Even though mild cases were reported but it’s better that you assure yourself and even your family not to be contrasted with this .

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  11. Tamatha says:
    Mon, 21st May 20125:37 am 

    ammonia and was previously only sold to cooking oil and dog food suppliers. Um, gross.

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  13. Rosann says:
    Tue, 28th Aug 20125:57 am 

    “What are you asking me to put on the label, its beef, it’s on the label, it’s a beef product, it’s says beef so we are declaring … it’s beef.” I personally would like to know if there’s an ammonia lined filler in my beef!

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