Company Statement: BPI & "Pink Slime"

We at Beef Products Inc. (BPI) are very troubled by the growing public concern over our boneless lean beef trimmings (BLBT), incorrectly coined as “pink slime” in the media. We want to assure everyone that BLBT is a safe, nutritious, and affordable beef product made by separating lean beef from fat. It is made from the same high-quality, USDA-inspected and approved meat trimmings as any other ground beef. BPI’s process to produce lean finely textured beef (LFTB) is safe and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2001.

BPI has a known record for food safety. In 2007, we were rewarded the Black Pearl award by the International Association for Food Protection for advancing food safety and quality. Over the past 30 years, there has never been a foodborne illness associated with our LFTB. Nevertheless, we continue to constantly improve our practices and processes to ensure they meet the highest safety standards.

In response to criticisms of using the chemical ammonium hydroxide to kill any harmful bacteria, no evidence demonstrates that it is harmful to public health or safety when used according to federal manufacturing practices. Ammonium hydroxide is commonly used directly in baked goods and dairy products and as a processing aid in breakfast cereals, fish, sports drinks, beer, and more. When the USDA approved our use of the chemical as an antimicrobial intervention, it defined it as a processing aid, not an ingredient, so it is not included in labeling meat products that use LFTB.

Further, BLBT is a sustainable product as it ensures safe, lean meat is not wasted when the supply of red meat is decreasing, and demand is increasing. It would take an additional 1.5 million head of cattle to produce the beef necessary to replace BLBT in the United States.

Our utmost commitment is to provide safe, high-quality, and affordable beef. We are proud to say with the utmost confidence and transparency that lean finely textured beef (LFTB) is safe, wholesome, nutritious, and most definitely not ‘pink slime.’