Almost every day there is news about the need for better food and better nutrition. Look around, the very shape of too many people support the fact that our diets tend to too much fat and carbohydrate intake and too little of fruits, greens and protein.
One basic need is to be more efficient in the production of foodstuffs and the reduction of waste and to make sure what resources we have is used to best advantage at minimum cost.
Recently a number of ill/misinformed people have succeeded in destroying a small business based on technology that enables the “salvage” of 14 (odd) pounds (thank you Mr. Benson) of valuable meat in the form of fresh super lean beef, because they are prejudiced against the product.
Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB) is a superior product, virtually fat-free and treated to be e.coli and salmonella resistant, things one cannot say about plain ground beef.
If you want to make some LFTB put a sirloin steak, very well trimmed, in your food processor and puree it.
Guess what you”ve got? Except that it is less sanitary and more prone to spoilage. But consider, what you”ve made is acceptable for student lunches although LFTB is not!
And our schools will have to replace seven million pounds of meat that is fatter and more expensive. Actually that is not correct in that the USDA, while noting the product was safe, also allowed schools to determine whether they would include it in school meals.
Then, of course, prejudice and paranoia took over and the small business had to shut down three of its four plants, costing almost 1000 badly needed jobs.
Like Mr. Benson, I am appalled that this sort of thing is allowed and I really hope there will legal compensation for the company.
On the other hand, what meat is not salvaged goes to the regular rendering plants, one product of which is another centrifuged product but not nearly as presentable or nutritious.
Watch your hot dogs and luncheon meats and pay attention to the old saying “if you like sausage, never visit a sausage factory.”
I also tend to agree with Mr. Benson”s positions concerning organic and non-organic foods.
I don”t feel there is significantly measurable difference between them beyond the packaging of organic is too often less controlled and sanitary (particularly in farmer”s markets) and it is always more expensive. Thankfully buyers can make their own decisions. Presumable the use of human excrement is organic. But not for me!
Guthrie “Guff” Worth
Kelseyville
