BILL NUMBER:S6271

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
prohibiting the sale of food and food products containing boneless
lean beef trimmings, commonly referred to as "pink slime", in schools

PURPOSE:

Prohibits the sale of food and food products containing boneless lean
beef trimmings, commonly referred to as "pink slime", in schools.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: amends the education law by adding a new section 915-a to
read:  Prohibiting the sale of food and food products containing bone-
less lean beef trimmings.

1. No food or food product containing boneless lean beef trimmings
shall be sold in any public school within the state.

2. For purposes of this section the term "boneless lean beef
trimmings" shall mean and refer to the industrial product commonly
referred to as "pink slime" which is created by passing bones through
a centrifuge after the limits of mechanically trimming such bones has
been reached in order to salvage any meaty materials remaining on such
bones, and then exposing such meaty materials to ammonia gas as a
              

disinfectant treatment.

JUSTIFICATION:

Whenever a cow is butchered there are pieces that are cut off that
aren't considered "for" human consumption. There is a greater risk for
E. call and other nasty stuff in those parts of the cow These parts
are typically used mainly just for pet food. Using a centrifuge they
can separate the fat from the meat. Once they salvage this meat, there
still is the concern of potential illness to humans.  The chemical
ammonia is then used to kill whatever bacteria may still exist.
McDonald's, Burger King, and Taco Bell, once known to use this product
have all stopped using pink slime. At a time when we as a state and
even as a nation are pulling together to promote healthier lifestyles
and eating habits, why would we subject our children to eating food
that has until now only been fed to our animals? Students within our
schools whose bodies and minds are growing and in need of the highest
forms of nutrition, should not be subjected to eating substandard food
products that hold very little if any nutritional value.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S. 2994 (2013) - Referred to Education
S. 6786 (2012) - Referred to Education

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:


This act shall take effect the 30th day after it shall have become
law.