Would you like some pink slime to go with your fries?

The latest uproar in the news is this whole Pink Slime deal.. but what is it?

Pink Slime is is an ammonia-infused additive that the US federal government has approved to be mixed in with ground beef to make real beef stretch further and can be used in up to 15 percent of the ground beef. Pink slime can be found in up to 70% of the ground beef in the US.
http://www.disabled-world.com/fitness/nutrition/pink-slime.php#ixzz1qK08FfiM


This statement from Disabled World made me think twice about the ground beef I'm consuming as well as what the schools are feeding kids: "With the U.S.D.A.’s stamp of approval, the company’s processed beef has become a mainstay in America’s hamburgers. McDonald’s, Burger King and other fast-food giants use it as a component in ground beef, as do grocery chains. The federal school lunch program used an estimated 5.5 million pounds of the processed beef last year alone. And since the USDA considers it a "process", Ammonia doesn't have to be listed on the packaging as a separate ingredient!"

After reading the harshness of the above article, I did some more digging and found a post that stated 'Pink Slime' not based on facts and here is what it had to say:
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2012/mar/24/pink-slime-not-based-on-facts/

• Also known as: "Lean Finely Textured Beef" from beef trimmings.
• These trimmings are then spun in a processor to separate the lean from the fat, resulting in a product that is about 95 percent lean, resembling that of finely ground beef. 
• Ammonium Hydroxide is used to elevate the pH of the Lean Finely Textured Beef to get rid of any microbes.
• The resulting product of the processing is pink beacuse it is "pure beef with a little fat."

So based on the two completely different articles across both ends of the spectrum what is your opinion on Pink Slime?

Personally, I don't like the mechanical process used to stretch ground beef. I prefer a more natural approach looking for grass fed cows. Consumption of red meat should be limited for heart health, so why not pay a little more and make sure you know where your ground beef is coming from.

Charis Eco-Farm is a small family owned and run grass-based farm located in Staunton, VA which offers grass fed beef. Meat can be purchased at local farmers markets or from the farm itself. For more information about this farm or to see other Pasteured Products from Virginia go to http://www.eatwild.com/products/virginia.html. Here you can find beef, chicken, and pork that are all raised locally and grass-fed.

Lets enjoy our food, not be worried about what fillers have been used to stretch it!