What Are Your Kids Eating At Lunch?

Pink slime for lunch. Sound revolting? The U.S. Department of Agriculture says no. 

Although touted as healthy, the department announced March 15 that schools could opt out of purchasing "pink slime" in the National School Lunch Program after a Change.org petition against the meat additive generated almost 300,000 backers. 

Even so, Director of Food And Nutrition Michelle Curry says she can't guarantee South Pas student lunches will be free from it—at least until July 1.

"Because there is no requirement to include it on the label (because it is still just beef), our manufacturers have no way of knowing which beef we receive may contain it," said Michelle Curry, adding that SPUSD receives its meat from Integrated/United, Pierre/Advanced Foods, Don Lee, JTM, Culinary Standards and Tyson.

"That said, it represents a small percentage of the beef we receive through commodities. ... When it is in a case of product, it can only represent 6 percent of that volume," she continued.

Pink Slime And SPUSD

Next year, SPUSD will choose not to buy USDA products with "pink slime."

"Since we will opt out for next year (if they are still offering it), our manufacturers will be using the meat we send them, so there is not the question as to whether it will contain that additional meat," said Curry.

"Also, the manufacturers have already sent us statements that on their own they will not be purchasing this meat."

What is Pink Slime?

Its technical name is lean finely textured beef (LFTB). Per The Wall Street Journal:

The additive, known in the industry as lean finely textured beef, is made from scraps remaining after cattle are butchered into cuts such as steaks and roasts. Processors remove the fat from trimmings, and in some cases treat the meat for bacteria with ammonium hydroxide. The product is then mixed with ground beef, often making it leaner, according to the company.

In an attempt to clear up misconceptions, the American Meat Association says: "LFTB products prevent the waste of valuable, lean, nutritious, safe, beef by using technology to do what hands cannot."

California Schools

California schools ordered more than 22.1 million pounds of beef from the USDA in 2010-11 school year, according to an analysis of state Department of Education data obtained by California Watch.

California Watch writes: 

Nearly 90 percent of that meat—primarily coarse ground beef and hamburger patties—was among the types that the USDA says could contain lean finely textured beef. That means anywhere from none to nearly 3 million pounds of beef from the USDA that was served in California schools last year could have been lean finely textured beef.

In addition to fresh retail ground beef, products that contain pink slime include low-fat hot dogs, lunch meats, pepperoni, meatballs, frozen entrees and canned foods, according to TIME.  

Is It Safe To Eat? 

Regardless of the gross photos and unappealing definition circling the web, "pink slime" is nothing new. And no, it doesn't actually look like pink toothpaste, says Curry—among others. 

"It is important to remember that it is perfectly safe to eat, and has been used for quite a while," said Curry. 

The government has allowed the meat additive in foods since the '90s when Beef Productions Inc. founder Eldon Roth developed a process to use ammonia gas to raise the pH and kill E. coli and salmonella. 

Fast-food chains, including McDonalds, said they would stop using it in January. And many grocery stores have followed suit.

Just Monday, Beef Products Inc. announced it would stop production of the ground-beef filler at three of its four plants. Tyson responded saying this will result in less beef supply and a spike in prices.

SPUSD's Lunch Menu

At SPUSD, beef is one of many lunch options—"and usually on the elementary menu only once a week," says Curry. 

students, for instance, could choose between two hot lunches Wednesday: crunchy beef tacos or a cheese quesadilla.

There is also a vegetarian sack lunch option offered at the school every day, as well as a different salad (sometimes containing meat) on the menu Monday through Thursday. 

The produce cart—containing mixed greens, fruit choices and vegetables—is available throughout the week, too. 

To view all SPUSD lunch menus, click HERE.

Last year, First Lady Michelle Obama introduced SuperTracker, so students can create a personalized nutrition and fitness plan. Check it out HERE. 

Related:

Patch Asks: What are your kids eating at lunch? Are you worried about pink slime?

Correction: A previous version of this article said meat at SPUSD may contain pink slime next year. Patch regrets the error.