Q: Does Hy-Vee put pink slime in its ground beef?
A: First of all, let’s define “pink slime.” Lean Finely Texturized Beef, also known as LFTB (which Jamie Oliver dramatically calls “pink slime”), is 100% beef that has been removed after processing and is added to fattier beef in order to make it more lean. The issue about LFTB is less about how safe it is and more about giving the customer the choice of whether or not to buy products with LFTB. Currently there is no mandate to label a food item as containing LFTB.
Hy-Vee had planned to eliminate all LFTB from their beef after the media storm that developed around it. Many customers expressed their dissatisfaction with this decision; removing LFTB from ground beef will raise the food cost and could result in the loss of thousands of jobs in the Midwest. Because of this, Hy-Vee has decided to offer both kinds of ground beef – both with and without LFTB. Both products will be clearly identified so customers can decide which one they want to purchase. This transition is underway and will be implemented in our stores as soon as possible.
