what an appetizing concept.
Posted on 05/10/2012 6:22:54 PM PDT by thecodont
The American Meat Institute is striking back at reports that “meat glue,” a binding agent often used to patch together pieces of beef and other protein, is unsafe and unnatural.
In an occasionally touchy conference call Thursday, the trade group said that the USDA considers such substances to be safe and requires its presence to be noted on retail labels. The product, however, isn’t always disclosed when it’s served at restaurants and other food service outlets, experts said.
But using the binding substance to weave together high-quality cuts such as filet mignon with lower-priced meat such as chuck steak is “patently illegal,” said Mark D. Dopp, the institute’s general counsel.
Such "Frankenstein" meat would be easily discernible to diners and not condoned by the industry, he said.
Not long after the “pink slime” outcry and the reemergence of mad cow disease, concerns about meat glue have the industry back on defense.
California state Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) recently called on the USDA to investigate such products, including options made by Fibrimex and Ajinomoto North America.
Ajinomoto uses transglutaminate, a “ubiquitous enzyme found in nature, basically every animal, in our tissues, in plants, trees and vegetables,” the company's Senior Vice President Brendan Naulty said on the conference call. Besides its meat applications, it is also used in products such as bread, yogurt and imitation crab.
Fibrimex uses fibrinogen and thrombin proteins, which company representative Christiaan Penning said was “designed by nature … but used in a more intelligent way.”
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
It’s as safe as genetically modified wheat.
LePage’s Mucilage? Rubber top with a slit?
I wouldn’t worry about it, even if they were :)
I fear not natural products bent to man’s needs!
I frequently “glue” my meat dishes together with flour and eggs. Same thing.
I never thought I’d hear a compelling argument for vegetarianism but between pink slime and meat glue, not to mention tuna scrape, pass the broccoli.
Seeing the term “meat glue” in a headline always makes me stop and ponder. Wa... WHAT?
Holy Moley! I just got to where I didn’t puke everytime I heard about “Pink Slime!”
I never thought I’d hear a compelling argument for vegetarianism but between pink slime and meat glue, not to mention tuna scrape, pass the broccoli.
It is only because of the USDA that these are even commonly used. It is only because the USDA declared that they are fit for human consumption rather than just as a method of making pet food that it is ubiquitous in our food supply. And further, it is because of the USDA that these things are hidden from the public and consumer, making regulations so that if it's a certain percentage, you just don't have to tell anyone that it is in there.
The cries from an industry that was exposed and shocked at the consumer response indicates they should have gone far beyond 'USDA' requirements in letting the consumer know what they were buying.
The whines of the liars are loudest when exposed. Poor babies.
Well as long as it’s present in imitation crab (krab?), then it must be OK.
Do you think the food industry will voluntarily tell the public the truth about food content?
Wait until the supermarket shelves are empty; many people (a lot here) will eat damn near anything.
Ditto. I've really cut back on ordering meat in restaurants anymore. If I didn't pick it out myself from the butcher(or what passes for a butcher these days), then I think twice or even three times before ordering now-a-days.
The butcher’s answer to oriented strand board...
Yeah, when, I ask what’s for dinner, I don’t want to hear ‘meat glue and pink slime’.
Loaves of pressed meat are a pretty common thing in processed food. Like Jennie-O turkey meat loaf. I’d never heard of making convincing imitations of actual steak, etc.
what an appetizing concept.
It’s gross. Organic is best.
People with full Stomachs are easily offended and appear to be very civilized.
People with empty Stomachs are too hungry to be offended and will do anything to survive, even if it's uncivilized.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.