The Los Angeles Times reports that the American Meat Institute (AMI) said that the usage of "meat glue," described as a "binding agent often used to patch together pieces of beef and other protein," is not only safe, but also approved by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
However, AMI also said that the law requires that when used at retail, meat glue has to be noted on labels, and that it is "patently illegal" to use it to bind together high quality cuts with lower quality meats.
Meat glue is not usually disclosed when it is used in products sold in restaurants and other foodservice businesses, AMI said.
The story suggests that since the meat glue controversy came up so quickly after a new case of mad cow disease was reported and the use of "pink slime" was decried by so many retailers, AMI wanted to get out in front of this controversy before it got any traction.
However, AMI also said that the law requires that when used at retail, meat glue has to be noted on labels, and that it is "patently illegal" to use it to bind together high quality cuts with lower quality meats.
Meat glue is not usually disclosed when it is used in products sold in restaurants and other foodservice businesses, AMI said.
The story suggests that since the meat glue controversy came up so quickly after a new case of mad cow disease was reported and the use of "pink slime" was decried by so many retailers, AMI wanted to get out in front of this controversy before it got any traction.
- KC's View:
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Ultimately, what every supplier and retailers will have to deal with is the fact that people are beginning to worry about things not being what they are supposed to be, that they cannot trust labels, that something fraudulent this way comes. in some cases, this will be an accurate perception, and in other cases, it won't be.
Don't blame the media. Just deal with the fact that technology means that a higher level of transparency is required, and you have to live up to those expectations and demands.
