Philadelphia School District Deciding Whether To Stop Using Beef With 'Pink Slime'
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Philadelphia School District is weighing its options on whether it should opt for government beef that does not contain the filler that has come to be known as "pink slime."
The USDA is now giving school districts the option to choose between the 95-percent lean beef that contains the filler that critics call "pink slime" (the USDA calls it "Lean Finely Textured Beef") and a fattier beef without it.
Philadelphia is deciding what to do. School District spokesman Fernando Gallard says some beef in Philly school lunches does contain the ammonia-treated filler.
"We have one specific product that contains that specific beef and that is a beef patty that is served in our high schools."
Gallard says the district has participated in the National School Lunch program since the 1990's and he knows of no complaints.
"We do have nutrition experts in our district that will look at the options and see how that compares to what we're currently serving. So nutrition will be one big factor."
Gallard wasn't sure how long the district had to make its decision. Any changes wouldn't take effect until next fall.
