http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/04/slimegate-should-usda-require-labeling-for-lftb/
Written by: Helena Bottemiller On April 3rd, 2012
Picture: This picture shows what pink slime looks like before it is used and then after it is in the meat. You can't even see it in the meat can you? That's what is so scary.
Summary: Many people are upset and are arguing over the Lean Finely Textured Beef, commonly known as pink slime or ammoniated beef. Buyers want to know if the beef they are buying has indeed been used with pink slime, but beef sellers are not required to tell you. Although many places are saying they are pink slime free, the beef is not required to be labeled if it is ammoniated beef. Why? Dr. H. Russel Cross who is a USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service administrator says, "There is no need for labeling LFTB--because nothing is being added that is not beef". Other people added that the ingredients in the pink slime do not stay in the product. This was proven false. While untreated beef had about 100-150 ppm of ammonia, beef that has been treated with pink slime contains about 400-500 ppm of ammonia. The product also takes beef from a normal pH of 5.7 to about 8.5. Although the products pH drops to about 7.5 when it leaves the facility in a large frozen brick, that is still 100 times more alkaline then it was before treatment. Although there are these facts there are still major arguments. While some people believe not labeling the pink slime beef is a form of fraudulent labeling, others believe that beef is beef. According to the article, Though it's probably a safe bet USDA won't require it anytime soon, consumers demanding an LFTB label at the grocery store look like they're going to get it.
Opinion/Reflection:
I 100 percent agree that the pink slime meat needs to be labeled!! Just like with everything, I want to know what I am eating (I am not a big surprise person when it comes to food). I remember we went into some detail about pink slime in Mrs. Ulmer's class. After that day, I went home and did research on pink slime and became really grossed out about it! I didn't eat ground beef for a while, I'm not gonna lie, I was scared. But now the grocery store I shop at, Giant, has sent out emails and says that they do not use pink slime. That first burger i ate once I learned the pink slime was no more was so tasty! Food labeling is deffinatly a topic everyone should be aware of. Honestly I am so happy I picked this article about pink slime so I could be more informed.
Question:
1. What Are your opinions on pink slime? Do you think they should have to label beef with pink slime?
2. Are there any other products that the USDA does not require you to have on your labels?
3. How important do you think it is for manufacturers to label their products?
4. Do you ever look at the ingredients in your food? Why or why not is this important to you?
Reflection/Opinion
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely disgusting!! I know all five of us have Mrs. Ulmer this semester, and she is the one who I first learned about pink slime from. People deserve the right to know what they are putting into their bodies, and if the pink slime isn't clearly marked SOMEWHERE on the label, that is complete violation of our rights. The fact that the pink slime changes ANYTHING about the meat means that people need to know exactly what made these changes. This really made me worry about what other companies leave out of their nutrition labels.
4. Do you ever look at the ingredients in your food? Why or why not is this important to you?
I definitely look at labels a lot. After trying to eat healthier, I thought what goes into your body is how you'll feel (so if you eat crappy junk food, you'll feel crappy). By not putting pink slime on the label of meat products that use it, the companies manufacturing the meat are not properly warning their consumers of what they use in their products. It's so important to me because I truly believe it is wrong that these companies are receiving money without properly telling their customers what they are actually buying.
Opinion/Reflection
ReplyDeleteEWWIEEE! I remember learning about this in some class, and learning that the pink slime is actually parts of the cow like the bones, that are not desirable to consumers. This is, indeed, disgusting. The fact that companies that use pink slime in their beef do not have to put this on their label is repulsive and manipulative. It is so bad for you, it has so many extra chemicals, and they should have the decency to let their costumers know what they are eating. This only makes companies who do not use pink slime in their products more desirable to consumers because they will definitely put this on their label. I feel like I’ve been lied to!
Question #3
It is VERY important for manufacturers to label their products. First of all, if someone has an allergy or health issue with something in a product, and it is not shown on the label, this could be dangerous. It could led to death, for heaven's sake! This is very unsafe.
Reflection:
ReplyDeletePink slime definantly needs to be labled! We have the right to know what we are putting in our bodies. If companies are not willing to lable that they have pink slime in their product, they obvioulsy have something to hide. It is bad for you and if someone dies from consuming pink slime I feel like they will finally look at the issue. Yes, that is horrible that something traumatic has to happen in order for people to listen, but it is often affective. We deffinantly need to have more laws about labeling.
Question 2:
I remember when I was younger, I was told about how packaging used a part of a pig. Most things that come in wrapers use this. There is an organisation that will label packaging that does not use the pig fat. This is just another point that we should know what animals are being harmed or what we are consuming. The only problem is that people do not seem to care. We should be more educated on the labeling and the things advertisers keep from us
Opinion/Reflection
ReplyDeleteGROSS! I remember learning about this in Comm Strat, and I still think it's the grossest thing. It's even worse when people don't even know that they could potentially be consuming this. There should definitely be a law that states that you have to label any food that contains this.
"Do you ever look at the ingredients in your food? Why is this important to you?"
I occasionally do, but not often. I usually can't distinguish between the different substances labeled anyway, which isn't good. I wish we were more educated about what is in our food, even if it is labeled. Who knows if something similar to pink slime is already in our food, and labeled, but we don't know what it is?