from: http://www.momables.com/does-my-grocery-sell-meat-with-pink-slime/
(video on site)

Does my grocery sell meat with pink slime?

Posted by Laura on March 11, 2012 Leave a Comment

All packaged beef must claim “beef” as their ingredient. The USDA has classified pink slime as “beef” because it comes from beef; and therefore, it does not have to be listed on a label. Deceiving, right? I’m sure you are wondering, which stores sell ground meat with pink slime? Below is a list of 7 major grocery chains that answered ABC News’ request for further information in their investigation.

ABC News emailed the top 10 grocery chains in America and seven responded:

1. Costco – Does not use pink slime. “Anything that we sell at Costco we want to explain it’s origins, and I personally don’t know how to explain trim treated with ammonia in our ground beef,” Craig Wilson, vice president of quality assurance for Costco, told ABC News. “I just don’t know how to explain that. I’m not that smart.”
2. Publix – “We have never allowed the use of LFTB (pink slime) in our meat. It’s 100 percent ground beef with no LFTB.”
3. H-E-B – “All our ground beef sold at H-E-B is 100% pure with no additives.”
4. Whole Foods – Does not use pink slime.
5. Safeway – “We rely on the federal government to help guide us on food safety issues. USDA has been clear in its judgment that Lean Finely Textured Ground Beef is a safe source of nutrition. However, we are reviewing the matter at this time.”
6. Ahold (Stop & Shop/Giant) – “Stores operated by the divisions of Ahold USA do carry ground beef made with Boneless Lean Beef Trimmings (BLBT), also called Finely Textured Beef (FTB). Boneless Lean Beef Trimmings (BLBT) is beef and is absolutely safe for consumption. To make the product, beef companies use beef trimmings, which are the small cuts of beef that remain when larger cuts are trimmed down. These trimmings are USDA-inspected, wholesome cuts of beef. This process has been an industry standard for almost 20 years. Alternatives to the conventional ground beef supply, in the form of Certified Angus Beef and Nature’s Promise ground beef products, are available to customers in stores across all of the divisions of Ahold USA. These products do not include the use of BLBT. Customers are being encouraged to ask any meat associate should they have any questions or would like to be directed to meat that does not include Boneless Lean Beef Trimmings. Our labeling is in compliance with USDA regulations. BLBT is USDA tested and approved ground beef and therefore does not require labeling.”
7. Kroger – “We do not use finely textured beef in our fresh ground beef. … We are routinely presented the finely textured beef as an option, but have always refused.”

In addition to Whole Foods, Tops Markets told ABC News it does not use “pink slime.” -List Source ABC News.

What’s the problem here? That some of these stores don’t see anything wrong with using the pink slime because it is a practice that has been allowed and deemed safe by the USDA. And what about Walmart? Does Walmart put pink slime in its ground beef? I am still waiting to hear the answer and I’m sure many of the 200 million people that shop at their stores weekly are too. What can you do? As mentioned in the post, What Is Pink Slime, if the beef is not stamped USDA Organic you have no way of knowing for sure the source of its contents.