Though USDA has continued to state that LFTB is safe, affordable,and nutritious, and informed schools of this as they were makingtheir purchases, the vast majority of districts aren't buying it. Every state (except Kansas, which is unable to place orders due tostate budget issues) has ordered ground beef for next year. As ofMay 18, states requested over 20 million pounds of ground beefproducts that do not contain LFTB and around 1 million pounds ofbeef products that may contain the product. The departmentestimates that beef that does not contain LFTB will cost schooldistricts around 3 percent more next school year. But these numbers do not mean LFTB won't end up on school lunchtrays. According to USDA, around 40 percent of ground beef servedby schools is not purchased through USDA, but through othercommercial channels. Craig Letch, BPI's director of food safety and quality, said thecompany was not surprised by the lack of orders from schooldistricts. "Based upon the misrepresentations that have been pervasive in themedia to this point, it comes as no surprise that the majority ofstates have currently elected to purchase ground beef that does notcontain lean finely textured beef," said Letch in an emailedstatement. "Understand, in no way is this a reflection of thequality and safety of the lean beef we produce, but an example ofhow a fictional media story can damage a product that has been usedsafely in the AMS program for over 14 years." "LFTB is 100%, all natural, USDA inspected pure lean beef - noadditives, no fillers," added Letch. "We will continue our effortsto provide accurate, factual information about our quality, leanbeef and look forward to supporting these and other schooldistricts in their purchasing decisions." Bettina Siegel, the Houston mom who launched the petition from herschool lunch blog The Lunch Tray, said she was pleased schools wereexercising the choice her petition helped fight for. "When I first heard about USDA's policy change back in March, Iwasn't sure if our petition's 'victory' was a hollow one in thatschools might not be able to afford non-LFTB beef in practice,"Siegel told Food Safety News . "But with today's news, I feel we really did achieve somethingsignificant. Now there's transparency and choice, and that's aclear win for the millions of kids who participate in the schoollunch program." _____ See recent Food Safety News coverage of the LFTB scandal here: Slimegate: Should USDA Require Labeling for LFTB? BPI and 'Pink Slime' A Timeline Governors Help Wash Ammoniated Beef of 'Pink Slime' Image What's Wrong With Pink Slime? Iowa Leaders Seek Congressional Hearing on Pink Slime Critics. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Turgo Hydro Turbine Manufacturer , Flanged Butterfly Valve, and more. For more , please visit Kaplan Hydro Turbine today!
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