Wednesday, May 09, 2012

'Pink slime' flap blamed for closure of 3 beef plants

Beef Products Inc. has permanently closed three of its beef processing plants, saying it could not overcome the "pink slime" controversy, reports Dan Piller of the Des Moines Register. The plants were located in rural areas of Iowa, Texas and Kansas and employed about 650 workers. They were temporarily closed in March after "pink slime" hit the national lexicon and became a media sensation, causing many grocery and fast food chains to stop buying the product, known in the industry as lean, finely textured beef.

“We will continue communicating the benefits of BPI’s lean beef, but that process is much more difficult than the campaign to spread misinformation that brought us to this point,” BPI spokesman Rick Jochem said. He added the company's plant in Sioux City, Neb. will remain open, but at a reduced production rate. Closures will be effective May 25. (Read more)

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