What Are Your Kids Eating At Lunch?

Pink slime for lunch. Sound revolting? The U.S. Department of Agriculture says no.

Although touted as healthy, the department announced March 15 that schools could opt out of purchasing "pink slime" in the National School Lunch Program after a Change.org petition against the meat additive generated almost 300,000 backers. 

While some districts local districts say they cannot guarantee their food will be free from pink slime, Arcadia's interim Director of Food Services Brook Reynolds says his district's suppliers have eliminated the additive, also known as lean finely textured beef.

"AUSD suppliers and food processors have assured us that they do not and will not use LFTB in any of their products or the beef they supply to our school district," Reynolds said.

Arcadia will choose not to buy USDA products with "pink slime."

What is Pink Slime?

Per The Wall Street Journal:

The additive, known in the industry as lean finely textured beef, is made from scraps remaining after cattle are butchered into cuts such as steaks and roasts. Processors remove the fat from trimmings, and in some cases treat the meat for bacteria with ammonium hydroxide. The product is then mixed with ground beef, often making it leaner, according to the company.

In an attempt to clear up misconceptions, the American Meat Association says: "LFTB products prevent the waste of valuable, lean, nutritious, safe, beef by using technology to do what hands cannot."

California Schools

California schools ordered more than 22.1 million pounds of beef from the USDA in 2010-11 school year, according to an analysis of state Department of Education data obtained by California Watch.

California Watch writes: 

Nearly 90 percent of that meat—primarily coarse ground beef and hamburger patties—was among the types that the USDA says could contain lean finely textured beef. That means anywhere from none to nearly 3 million pounds of beef from the USDA that was served in California schools last year could have been lean finely textured beef.

In addition to fresh retail ground beef, products that contain pink slime include low-fat hot dogs, lunch meats, pepperoni, meatballs, frozen entrees and canned foods, according to TIME.  

Is It Safe To Eat? 

Regardless of the gross photos and unappealing definition circling the web, "pink slime" is nothing new. And no, it doesn't actually look like pink toothpaste, experts say.

The government has allowed the meat additive in foods since the '90s when Beef Productions Inc. founder Eldon Roth developed a process to use ammonia gas to raise the pH and kill E. coli and salmonella. 

Fast-food chains, including McDonalds, said they would stop using it in January. And many grocery stores have followed suit.

Recently, Beef Products Inc. announced it would stop production of the ground-beef filler at three of its four plants. Tyson responded saying this will result in less beef supply and a spike in prices.

Arcadia's Lunch Menu

At AUSD, chicken dishes dominate the district's school lunch menu at all levels. Beef is just one of many lunch options, served at-most twice a week to elementary and middle school students.

For instance, the week of March 26-30, beef appeared just once on the elementary school menu; students were served hamburgers that Tuesday. Students who did not want a burger could choose between a tuna sandwich, grilled cheese sandwich or orange chicken with rice.

The produce cart—containing mixed greens, fruit choices and vegetables—was available throughout the week, too. 

To view all Arcadia lunch menus, click HERE.

Last year, First Lady Michelle Obama introduced SuperTracker, so students can create a personalized nutrition and fitness plan. Check it out HERE.

Related:

Patch Asks: What are your kids eating at lunch? Are you worried about pink slime?