Should Pink Slime be banned?

Do you know what is in your burger? Perhaps you will think twice before buying meat products after getting a visual of the meat formerly distributed by Beef Products Inc. After videos of the production process were distributed on social networks, Beef Products Inc. came under a lot of criticism regarding the quality and origin of their products. The videos showed a revolting pink slime made with fatty leftovers of other cuts of meat. This slime was then sold as a beef product. It appears that this product actually meets food standards – but its aspect ruined the reputation of the company.

It also seems that Beef Products Inc. was not entirely honest with the customers. The pink slime was clearly disguised to look like quality meat cuts and labeled as ‘lean, finely textured beef’. Beef Products Inc. had to suspend production but the firm is already preparing a comeback: they launched the site BeefisBeef.com to convince customers that their products are healthy and present the ‘pink slime’ as a myth.

The truth is, their products actually look like pink slime, but we have been eating them for years. The meat industry is not a pretty thing: processed food or not, would you eat meat if you saw an animal skinned and gutted? If the pink slime meets quality standard and has been mistaken as quality cuts of meat for years, why not accept this product? It might be best if Beef Products Inc. and similar meat distributors are honest about the nutritional content of their meat instead of advertising it as quality cuts, but these companies should not be banned from selling their products since there is obviously a market for it.