RI schools pull 'pink slime' from menu

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP/WPRI) - Rhode Island school officials have decided to remove the controversial "pink slime" beef additive from all school meals beginning next fall.

Rhode Island Public Radio reports that school districts have voted not to order any beef with the additive for the next school year.

Disgust is growing nationwide with the ammonia-treated beef filler, which is known in the industry as "lean, finely textured beef" and has been used for years. Federal regulators say ammonia is normally used to reduce the risk of E. coli in ground beef, but critics have called it an unappetizing example of industrialized food production.

The United States Department of Agriculture admits that the levels used did not pose a health risk to consumers.

However, growing pressure from school districts nationwide has caused the USDA to announce it will now offer more ground beef product choices to schools.

The Rhode Island Department of Corrections distributes food to schools across the state. Agency officials say they'll use up all the meat that's in its warehouse and then start ordering products without pink slime.
------
Information from: RIPR-FM, http://www.wrni.org/