POLL: Are You Concerned About "Pink Slime"?

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.”

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."

In addition, “The company that owns Superfresh and Pathmark says at least two of its store brands do not contain the filler, the Mid-Atlantic Country Farms ground beef and Green Way All Natural. They do not have an answer yet though for other ground beef sold in the stores,”

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