https://newfoodeconomy.org/bpi-pink-slime-ground-beef-usda-reclassifed/
Beef Products Inc. (BPI), the South Dakota-based meat processing company at the center of 2012’s “pink slime” controversy, just won a long-sought semantic victory. For years, the company has argued that its signature product is safe, wholesome, and not unlike everyday burger meat. Now, BPI has enlisted a powerful ally in its effort to recoup its image and reclassify its product: the federal government.
After a months-long evaluation, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) determined in December that BPI’s signature product—the offering famously called “pink slime” in an ABC News exposé that got the network in a lot of trouble—can be labeled “ground beef.” Legally speaking, it’s now no different from ordinary hamburger, and could even be sold directly to the public.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Thexalon on Friday February 15 2019, @03:48PM (12 children)
The next best thing is to get to know some farmers and buy from them. For example, when my buddies down the road are selling me chicken, it's easy for me to see how that chicken was raised, and I can probably observe them doing the processing if I want to.
"Think of how stupid the average person is. Then realize half of 'em are stupider than that." - George Carlin
(Score: 5, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 15 2019, @03:53PM (3 children)
Even better, you get to know your neighbours and you scale your production so you can sell cheaper to them than they can produce. And at that point, maybe pre-process the product a little, because they want it already ground and things. .. Maybe somewhat increase efficiency and reduce waste ... make sure people don't get sick from disease .... oh wait....
Fuck back to square 1.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 15 2019, @07:37PM (1 child)
Get to know my neighbors? As an asocial recluse, I'd rather eat the pink slime.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 15 2019, @11:19PM
Sorry, but I am an invegan (involuntarily vegan). Hopefully I will not drive a vehicle into a herd to express my frustration.
(Score: 2) by RedIsNotGreen on Saturday February 16 2019, @12:00AM
You touch upon an important trend, one that it's good to be mindful for when acquiring things that should be of high quality, such as food:
It's easy to make one, or ten, or even a thousand of high-quality somethings, but when you start making ten-thousand, or a million, the quality is almost certain to drop.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Phoenix666 on Friday February 15 2019, @03:58PM (7 children)
Through my eco-activism I have come to know people who raise their own chickens. Occasionally they give me eggs. Sometimes they look weird on the outside but they are so rich and creamy there is no comparison to factory-farmed eggs you get in the grocery store. Kind of the same thing with people who raise their own milk-producing livestock. The cream on the top of a fresh pint of milk is so rich it's better than a bar of Belgian chocolate.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Friday February 15 2019, @04:36PM (2 children)
Goat milk. The poorest goat milk is equal to the best of cow's milk, in terms of nutrients. You've got to get used to it, the flavor is quite different.
“I have become friends with many school shooters” - Tampon Tim Walz
(Score: 2) by Knowledge Troll on Friday February 15 2019, @04:42PM
I wanted to find the goat cheese pizza scene from The Great Outdoors but didn't see it. So have an Ole 96er [youtube.com] instead.
(Score: 2) by TheReaperD on Saturday February 16 2019, @08:05AM
Drinking goat milk is equivalent to getting punched in the face and I have about an equal desire to repeat both experiences.
Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 15 2019, @04:55PM (2 children)
This. Fresh eggs and fresh milk made me reject veganism.
I had a glass of store skim "recently." How do people drink that?!
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Friday February 15 2019, @06:14PM (1 child)
Skim milk / 2% milk is 99% or 98% water, respectively. It certainly tastes like it. For some reason, I can also drink a little whole milk without issues, but a little skim or 2% usually gives me an upset stomach.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 16 2019, @06:07AM
2% or skim milk is basically sugar water. You remove the good fat and leave protein and mostly (~2/3) sugar.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 15 2019, @07:42PM
I raise my own chickens and the yolks are orange. And I do it not because of eco-anything, but because it's fun and I want to. If your purpose of having chickens or goats or whatever is because "eco", then don't do it. You have wrong motivation. Better just to buy bio freerange stuff instead. Better for you and for the animals.