The USDA approved the inclusion of Lean Finely Textured Beef, otherwise known as pink slime, in school lunches despite strong criticisms from consumers. LPHS lunches do not contain the pink slime which has caused uproar among consumers.

LFTB is produced mostly by Beef Products Inc. and Cargill Meat Solutions. It contains beef trimmings rather than muscle and is treated with ammonia gas. The United States Department of Agriculture says LFTB is safe for consumption.

The low-grade trimmings in LFTB come from the parts of the cow that are most susceptible to contamination from E. coli and other such contaminants. The trimmings are close to the hide of the cow and are highly exposed to fecal matter.

Before Beef Products Inc. began treating the meat with ammonia, LFTB was only used in dog food or cooking oil. LPHS students will not be eating LFTB in their lunches.

“I personally only buy beef products. I don’t agree with using pink slime. If I won’t eat it, the students won’t eat it,” said Katie Dubois, a registered dietician and head of food services at LPHS.

Food labels are not required to state the product contains LFTB. Its producers claim LFTB is safe for consumption and is just beef, and that there is no reason to label it as anything except beef.

A major concern for consumers is where they can shop in order to avoid pink slime. McDonalds, Burger King and Taco Bell do not use pink slime in their food.

Grocery stores that have confirmed they do not have pink slime in their products include CostCo, Publix, HEB, Whole Foods and Kroger. However, their frozen products containing beef may still contain pink slime.

Ground beef labeled as “hamburger” almost always contains pink slime. Ground beef labeled as organic by the USDA cannot contain fillers, and therefore does not contain pink slime.

“We only buy 100% beef and no commodity products,” Dubois said.

LPHS students and parents do not have to worry about pink slime or other preservatives making an appearance at lunch.