POLL: Are You Concerned About "Pink Slime"?

Updated to include comments from A&P spokeswoman Marcy Connor.

McDonalds, Burger King, and Taco Bell all say they won’t be using any of the pink stuff anymore, but what about supermarkets?

When U.S. Department of Agriculture Scientist Gerald Zirnstein told ABC News that 70 percent of chopped meat contains what he referred to as “pink slime” it set off a debate as to whether or not the additive is healthy or not, and if people should be eating it even if it is.

In January, McDonald’s announced plans to discontinue use of the additive. Burger King and Taco Bell have made similar commitments, according to the Supermarket News website, and many supermarket chains have said they don’t carry it, or that the do carry it, as well as beef without the additive.

“Pink slime,” or  “lean, finely textured beef,” consists of beef trimmings that have been treated with ammonia gas to kill bacteria, and then simmered at low heat and spun in a centrifuge to separate out excess fat, according to Supermarket News.

Proponents say there is nothing wrong with the meat, and that it is low in fat, high in protein and safe from salmonella and ecoli.

spokeswoman Santina Stankevic said the grocery story grinds it's meat several times a day and that there are no addtives in its meat.

"Rest assured that the fresh ground beef you buy at Shop Rite contains no such additives,” she told the East Brunswick Patch. “At Shop Rite we have chosen to work with vendors to sell only 100 percent pure ground beef. We  prepare it fresh in our stores several times a day so that we can be sure that it’s the best tasting and safest ground beef possible.”

Those who do their shopping at A&P also are in luck. The company also owns SuperFresh and Pathmark.

“Recent media reports have referred to an additive in ground beef called ‘pink slime,’ or lean, finely textured beef," said A&P spokeswoman Marcy Connor. "The freshly made ground beef products carried at the A&P family of supermarkets, including our exclusive Mid-Atlantic Country Farms locally grown ground beef and our Green Way all-natural ground beef, do not contain this or any other additives. All of our beef products are of the highest quality to ensure customer satisfaction.”

According ABC News, Ahold USA, which owns and Giant, said it’s stores do carry Finely Textured Beef, though “we are not purchasing any fresh ground beef that includes Finely Textured Beef produced using ammonium hydroxide. Finely Textured Beef is 100% lean beef and is absolutely safe for consumption."

So, here is the question, are you concerned about eating “pink slime”?