The Facts About Lean Finely Textured Beef

Recent media interest in lean finely textured beef (LFTB), which some have called "pink slime," has caused some confusion among consumers. LFTB is simply beef that has been separated from the fat in beef trimmings. Trimmings are chunks of meat that result when large carcasses are broken down into steaks, roasts and other cuts. In the past, these trimmings were wasted because a surgeon's skill was required to separate the lean from fat and create a product that consumers would enjoy. But 20 years ago, a new technology became available that has helped us prevent the waste of wholesome, lean beef. The beef industry is proud that today, we can derive more beef from a beef animal with less waste. We hope that after viewing the following resources, you will feel as confident in the process as we do.

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[C Harmon]

How can America trust this when you won't even label your product?

If it is truly quality meat- then why is there a difference in flavor and texture?

Your two piles of meat scraps look the same to me.

I doubt you will even approve this comment.

My family won't buy anything that isn't organic due to companies doing things like this.

[meatnewsnetwork]

The only difference between LFTB and other beef is it's separated from the fat mechanically instead of with a knife. It gets a puff of ammonia or citric acid as a food safety measure the same way many other foods do. There is a difference in texture because of the mechanical separation, but that doesn't mean any difference in quality. Re: labeling, ground beef is often made up of several cuts of beef which aren't typically labeled individually. LFTB is just another one of those cuts.

[RealRanchers]

Well done video covering a lot of the questions people will have about LFTB. Do you have videos showing how the process works? That would be valuable for consumers to see as well. They might not just take your word for it sitting in an office. Seeing the process (without the hype the other media sources are cultivating) might ease worries.

[meatnewsnetwork]

More information about how the process works is in the works. We want to get out as much factual information about this as possible.

[MrDreamwizard]

Is there REALLY "GOOD grief vs BAD Grief?

In MANY if not MOST, products we buy, there is an extensive list of ingredients & processes, & agents used in the processes.

On the contrary to what is implied, chicken, for example, is often labeled as "mechanically separated" chicken when a "process" is used to extract chicken from the bone. Why would you NOT label ground beef as "Contains __% LFTB" & possibly describe what is used in this processing? This is still an "additive" to the actual beef

[SteveandAnna73]

What a fantastic report. An objective, factual analysis seems like too much to ask from the main stream media these days. Shame on news networks that allow one-sided propaganda-spewing reports such as pink slime. Such reporting has resulted in hundreds of domestic jobs, lives of cattle, and tremendous amounts financially. All at a time when this country continues to show faltering stability resembling that of the age of the depression. Well done, meatnewsnetwork. Thank you.

[ImPrettySnazzy]

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Meat processing is brutal, very brutal. I am glad someone else does this job for me. I am glad that someone else picks my strawberries and deliveries my mail and teaches my child algebra and repairs my car. The term Pink Slime is used because that phrase creates a "pathological" response. In this case, I am using pathos as emotion, not disorder. In essence, the creators of that label are "pertaining to logic using emotion." Don't be weak-minded America.

[whitt2k]

I agree that LFTB is a "Meat Product." Most consumers like me no longer eat processed foods because of the "puff" of ammonia you described as a part of your process. This is not only dangerous to humans but also is not natural. There is no need for this to be a part of my or my family's dietary habits and we're better for it.

[PeopleForTheTruth]

go to our page and watch "People for the Truth Showing the Facts and Myths of LFTB" ... clears up a lot of things about so called Pink Slime

[Unicron4ever]

If the product is high quality, nutritious and safe, why wasn't it advertised in the first place? Milk producers proudly display "pasteurized milk" on their label.

Are there any long-term studies on human consumption of trimmed meat or LFTB?

Which quantity of ammonium hydroxide remains in the product after processing?

I am extremely wary of this product and would not buy if given the opportunity.

[jcdova29]

If its soo great sell it as a stand alone product. Let the public decide if they want a big fat juicy 100% pink slime patty. Don't mix it with real beef and push it on our schools. I still don't understand how you get lean fine textured beef from scraps.

[wooddyy420]

its been going on for a long time, there is nothing wrong with this proscess. you "organic" beef is more costly to produce and worse for the environment since an "organic" calf that dies isnt being used an all the greenhouse gasses it made in its life are for not. you just keep believing the garbage the liberal media feeds you.

[uhclem]

Can you imagine what you might do with a pastry pipe and this stuff?

The free market says sell it and we'll buy!

[uhclem]

Using ammonia to clean the meat is a direct result and an unintended consequence of people like you freaking out about irradiation of beef. One can safely eat raw hamburger in France but not in America.

I wonder why that is.