USDA Says Lean Finely Textured Beef is Being Maligned

USDA Says Lean Finely Textured Beef is Being Maligned

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report.

Many farmers and ranchers have watched and listened in amazement in recent weeks to the hububbaloo in the both the mainstream media and social media about lean finely textured beef.

This is a meat product derived from a process which separates fatty pieces from beef trimmings to reduce the overall fat content. This 100 percent beef product is lower in both fat and historically lower in cost and is a safe product.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack held a press conference earlier this week specifically to clarify facts surrounding lean finely textured beef and the media storm that has surrounded it.

Vilsack: “You know the reality is that a very small percentage of America’s population produces 85 to 95 percent of what we consume. It is less than one-tenth of one percent. I think one of the lessons we’ve been trying to work with the ag groups across the country is the need for us to continue to educate the rest of the population that may be two three or four or five generations removed from the farm. That is why I was pleased that the commodity groups decided to form the Farmer and Ranch Alliance because that is a group that is dedicated to getting a positive message about agriculture because there are a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings. People just don’t know, they just don’t know.”

Vilsack urges consumers to consult science-based information on the safety and quality of lean finely textured beef.

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.