'Pink Slime' Not Served at Princeton Regional Schools

Following on the news that the so-called "pink-slime" beef won't be served in New Jersey schools next academic year, Princeton Regional Schools has confirmed it already was not serving the amonia-treated filler in its beef. 

"Our food service provider is Chartwells," Superintendent Judy Wilson said. "Their suppliers were not using the bad processing chemicals. The only question might have been in what the free commodity food from the government contained.

"However, it was clear several days ago that NO source of beef for the Princeotn Regional Schools has or will have the ammonia treated filler in it," Wilson said. 

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.

“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.

According to federal regulators, the filler, or “pink slime,” has been used for years and while the USDA claims that the ammonia used to treat the beef filler is barely noticeable in the finished product because of its rapid dissipation, it has been brought to the forefront of various nutrition discussions.  

Deputy Majority Leader Reed Gusciora (D-Trenton) applauded the state's decision.

“This is a proactive step towards the health and well-being of our students.  How can we expect top performances from our children when they are being served ‘mystery meat’ with questionable nutrition?” Gusciora said.

“We are working hand in hand on a federal level with this ban in an attempt to address the health of our nation’s children,” he added. “I look forward to this step and many others in promising a healthy school year.”