States opt out of ‘pink slime’ lunches

Most states participating in the government’s subsidized school lunch program refuse to accept ground beef that contains “pink slime.”

The vast majority of states participating in the government’s subsidized school lunch program this week refused to accept ground beef that contains the filler called “pink slime,” which recently created a national uproar. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that only Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota chose to continue ordering beef that may contain the filler, known in the food industry as lean finely textured beef. The product has been used for decades, and federal regulators say it’s safe to eat, but as Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) said recently, “McDonald’s and Burger King won’t serve it in their restaurants and it doesn’t belong in school cafeterias either.”

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us