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Pink Slime: Our right to awareness as Consumers
- 1. PINK SLIME: OUR RIGHT TO AWARENESS AS CONSUMERS BY OLIVIA CREIGHTON
- 2. CONSUMERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING CONTAINED IN THE FOOD THEY ARE PURCHASING. REGARDLESS OF RISK ASSERTED WITH CONSUMPTION, OR FEARS FROM MANUFACTURERS OF LOSING BUSINESS, COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY WITH CONSUMERS IS ESSENTIAL.
- 3. WHAT IS PINK SLIME? Pink slime is processed beef trimmings that are used in red meat as a filler. This allows for manufacturers to use less of the more expensive cuts, making more product for less money. Although the term “pink slime” is more commonly used in media, manufacturers use the term, “lean finely textured beef.” https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/03/is-it-time-to-embrace-pink-slime/25
- 4. THE POSSIBLE RISKS Exposure and consumption of Ammonia Escherichia coli Salmonella Though these risks are present, there remains debate on whether they are harmful to consumers or pose a greater risk than other meat.
- 5. RESISTANCE TO LABELING Without clear evidence directly linking pink slime to any health issues, manufacturers are Claims have been made that this will cause unnecessary fear in consumers, leading to a loss in sales.
- 6. GMO LABELING LEADING THE WAY It was feared that the labeling of GMO’s would lead to decreased sales and unnecessarily cause worry in consumers. When GMO’s were labeled it was realized that sales did not decrease, and consumers appreciated the transparency of the manufacturers. https://www.google.com/search?q=GMO+Label&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk01pkI9a2pQa2cmvmx- BCFzzhqckrg:1587249930100&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=5jiHvNSZDea5- M%253A%252CSoIH4WXa_IPVOM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_- (Zhang, 2018)
- 7. PINK SLIME: AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS? Pink Slime is a challenging name to look past, very clearly leading to negative connotations. Combatting the harsh name and reputation of pink slime, a chef in New York very openly uses pink slime in his cooking (Bobo, 2015). Not only does this show the effectiveness of transparency with the consumer, but allows to lessen food waste . https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/06/17/322911060/pink-slime-is-making-a-comeback-do-you-have-a-be
- 8. RESPECT FOR CONSUMERS “A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.” -The Dalai Lama Whether consumers choose to be educated on what is in their food or not, they should have the right to access this information if they choose. Establishing a sense of transparency and responsibility of manufacturers is essential. Business and economic worries should not take priority over the human beings involved, and their right to be informed and educated on what they consume. (Williamson, 2018)
- 9. WORKS CITED Aciman, Alexander. “Go Ahead. Eat Pink Slime.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 June 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/06/06/opinion/go-ahead-eat-pink-slime.html. Barclay, Eliza. “Should 'Pink Slime' Be Labeled?” NPR, NPR, 11 Apr. 2012, www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/04/11/150416464/should-pink-slime-be-labeled. Bobo, Jack, and Sweta Chakraborty. “Reports: Risk Communication Pink Slime versus Garbage Chic: A Consideration of the Impact of Framing on Consumer Behavior towards Food Waste.” European Journal of Risk Regulation (EJRR), vol. 6, no. 3, 2015, pp. 445–447. https://heinonline-org.ezproxymcp.flo.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/ejrr2015&id =471&collection=journals&index= Boffey, Philip M. “What If It Weren’t Called Pink Slime?” The New York Times, 2012, p. 12.https://advance-lexis- com.ezproxymcp.flo.org/document/?pdmfid=1516831&crid=c1e6a 5a5-04f4-42f2-84b7-200c14384a38&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fnews %2Furn%3AcontentItem%3A55MJ-DR91-JBG3-60XP-00000- 00&pdcontentcomponentid=6742&pdteaserkey=sr0&pditab=allpods&ecomp=pp79k&earg=sr0&prid=f774e963-3b3b-42c8-a4e6-bf4053f0f3bb LeVaux, Ari. “Is It Time to Embrace Pink Slime?” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 29 Mar. 2012, www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/03/is-it-time-to-embrace-pink- slime/254822/. Russell, Joyce. “'Pink Slime' Is Making A Comeback. Do You Have A Beef With That?” NPR, NPR, 17 June 2014, www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/06/17/322911060/pink-slime- is- making-a-comeback-do-you-have-a-beef-with-that. Williamson, Matthew. “‘A Lack of Transparency Results in Distrust and a Deep Sense of Insecurity." ~ Dalai Lama.” Accesa Labs Blog, Acessa Labs, 24 Apr. 2018, www.accesalabs.com/blog/price- transparency-in-medical-lab-testing/
Editor's Notes
- Hi, my name is Olivia Creighton. Today I want to take the time to discuss pink slime, and our right to awareness as consumers.
- I believe that consumers have the right to know what is being contained in the food they are purchasing. Regardless of risk asserted with consumption, or fears from manufacturers of losing business, complete transparency with consumers is essential, and should be considered a basic human right.
- What is Pink Slime To understand the argument and controversy surrounding pink slime, it is important to understand what it is. Pink Slime is processed beef trimmings, that are later used in ground beef as a filler. This allows for manufacturers to use less of the more expensive beef by substituting in Pink Slime. In turn they also are able to increase their profits without loosing money on using better and more expensive cuts of beef. Within the meat industry, pink slime is referred to as “lean finely textured beef.” Making it not sound quite as off-putting as the term pink slime.
- The Possible Risks The next important concept that needs to be taken into consideration are the risks associated with consumption of pink slime. Links of higher rates of E. coli and salmonella have been suggested with the consumption of pink slime. In order to reduce this risk, beef is treated with Ammonia, another harmful chemical. Despite these being present, manufacturers debate on whether the small amounts of ammonia are truly harmful to the consumer. They also insist that risk of contamination with E coli and Salmonella are no higher in pink slime than other meat. Whether these are greater risks in pink slime or not, I believe it is important for consumers to know there could be a risk to their health from consuming pink slime.
- Resistance to Labeling Manufacturers have resisted labeling pink slime as the evidence suggesting possible harmful effects and exposure to dangerous chemicals is not concrete. Without this evidence serving as a fact, manufacturers say that labeling pink slime is not necessary as it will only cause unjust worry in consumers. There is also fear amongst manufacturers that this labeling will lead to a loss in sales for no reason.
- GMO Labeling Leading the Way It was originally feared that the labeling of GMO’s would lead to decreased sales and cause unecessary worry in consumers. This is similar to the fears and resistance to labeling pink slime today However, when GMO’s started being labeled, it was realized that sales of these products didn’t decrease and consumers really aprreciated the honesty and transparency from producers and manufacturers. This should serve as an excellent example of why labeling pink slime wont necessarily be detrimental to manufacturers. It can work to develop and strengthen the open and honest platform from manufactures to consumers.
- Pink Slime: As Bad as it Sounds? With a name like pink slime, it is very understandable the immediate negative connotations that consumers form when hearing this. In a fight to combat this negative name and food waste, a chef in New York works very publicly with pink slime in his dishes. This is a great example of informed consumers appreciating transparency and not letting negative portrayals influence their decision. Once again this supports my argument of why labeling pink slime does not need to be a negative for the producers or consumers.
- Respect for Consumers In the end, I believe this debate boils down to respecting consumers, and their right to be informed. I recently found this quote by the Dalai Lama, and I believe it applies perfectly to this situation. “A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.” This greatly summarizes the argument I support in this debate. In order for consumers to trust the manufacturers producing the food they eat, there cannot be any deception. Whether consumers choose to be educated on what is in their food or not, they should have the right to access this information if they choose. Establishing a sense of transparency and responsibility of manufacturers is essential. Business and economic worries should not take priority over the human beings involved, and their right to be informed and educated on what they consume.
- Thank you for taking the time to listen to my argument supporting the labeling of pink slime.