Making kids sick
Unfortunately, the ammonia doen”t really work perfectly…. so salmonella has turned up in meat destined for US schools 48 times between 2005 and 2010. And to add to the stupidity… it’s found AFTER it’s been mixed in with 85 percent non-contaminated ground beef… meaning the recall wastes almost six times more beef than slime.
It’s a formula for success that only the Bush administration could approve of – and this despite the comments of USDA microbiologist Gerald Zirnstein, the guy who first called it ”pink slime”, and who stated flatly in a 2002 departnmental email, “I do not consider the stuff to be ground beef, and I consider allowing it in ground beef to be a form of fraudulent labeling.”
The question is: Why has the Obama administration continued this crazy practice?
The USDA is considering one improvement: Right now, companies are allowed to ship beef out BEFORE they get test results for contamination. According to Grist, making them wait just two extra days could have prevented 44 salmonella outbreaks in the last four years.
But so far, nobody is talking about requiring labeling (they don’t even do that for GMOs!), or banning the nasty process all-together.
Watch clips of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution on the ABC website, or watch full episodes at Hulu.com.
What you can do about pink slime:
- If you live in Los Angeles, write the LAUSD and tell them to stop feeding this swill to our children. (If you don’t find a way to get a message to your local district).
- You can sign Jamie Oliver’s petition here; also, sign the one to get sugar-loaded flavored milk out of schools.
- Jennifer Poole suggests writing to Michelle Obama, who’s taken a lead on food issues, via the White House website
- She also suggests talking to your local supermarket and encouraging them not to sell ground beef products that contain pink slime.
- Get more information on healthy eating and the Food Revolution campaign across America at Jamie Oliver’s website.
- At EatDrinkBetter.com, Becky Streipe suggests “Your best bet is to stick with local ground beef from a farmer you know and trust.”
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More on food safety:
- Pink Slime in Fast Food Burgers
- Is the Food Safety Bill a Blessing or a Corporatist Curse?
- Bad publicity from animal cruelty? Ban publicity…
- GMOs: Devaluing the definition of “Organic”
- The Trouble with Monsanto and GMO – David Suzuki spells it out
- Scientist urges USDA to rescind approval of Monsanto’s GMO alfalfa
- Genetically Modified Foods Causing Animal Miscarriages, but Who Cares?
- Monsanto blocks research on GMO safety, harasses scientists
- An alfalfa farmer explains why he sued Monsanto
- End of Organics? Monsanto’s GMO Alfalfa Approved
(Jamie Oliver Photo copyright ABC)
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About Jeremy Bloom
Finally someone bringing in some perspective on the disgusting practises that are allowed and supported by the FDA. They should be ashamed of themselves!
I agree… but dang people.. come on.. we can change this.. Most people dont care what they eat.. they dont want to know.. so scarey and so sad.. POOR KIDS…shame on us for not giving them the best we can in life.. if you put sugar in your car it wont run.. just as the body requires certian vitamins to function right.. all these illnesses..most have been related to our food…become aware.. lets change this
Here’s a petition to get rid of this stuff! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/force-FDA-to-label-Pink-Slime-Ground-Beef/
When the Tea Party and the GOP talks about the dangers of BIG GOVT, this mess in our school lunches is a good example of it for real. Our obesity crisis is caused by the USDA and the FDA. Then school districts feeding processed garbage to kids. It is slowing killing them while some official lines his pockets.