BPI plant closures over ‘pink slime’ become permanent
The company is cutting more than 650 jobs at the plants in Texas, Kansas and Iowa, and reducing production at its Nebraska facility, citing “unfounded and misguided attacks on [its] boneless lean beef trimmings”, also known as lean finely textured beef (LFTB) and dubbed as ‘pink slime’ by the US media.
BPI said: “We continue to stand by our lean beef as 100% wholesome, safe and nutritious, and we will continue to defend Beef Products Inc against the mischaracterisations and irresponsible misrepresentations that led us to take these actions.
“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.”
The company said it was making “significant progress in setting the record straight”, and intended to continue operations at its Nebraska plants and expand production there “as the market activity allows”.
Early last month, another LFTB processor, AFA Foods, filed for bankruptcy, prompting the American Meat Institute to criticise media coverage of the ‘pink slime’ consumer campaign.
