USDA gives schools a choice on filler

WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- Schools will be able to order government ground beef without the meat filler known as "pink slime," officials announced Thursday.

In its announcement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said lean finely textured beef is healthy and safe. But it said it is giving schools a choice in response to requests from many districts.

The product, produced by Beef Products Inc., is made by separating lean meat from fat in beef trimmings and grinding it finely. The filler is simmered at low heat and sprayed with ammonia to kill germs.

ABC News reported last week about 70 percent of the ground beef sold in the United States includes the filler. Under USDA regulations, it does not have to be labeled.

"It kind of looks like play dough," said Kit Foshee, who left a job as a corporate quality assurance manager at BPI a decade ago. "It's pink and frozen, it's not what the typical person would consider meat."