USDA: Schools Can Opt Not to Feed "Pink Slime" to Students

McClatchy Newspapers - After a public uproar sparked by a Houston mom's online petition, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture on Thursday backed off the federal school lunch program's use of "pink slime" by letting school districts decide whether to accept the controversial beef product.

A groundswell developed over the "yuck factor" of the ground beef extended with filler that is made from beef renderings and treated with ammonia hydroxide. The USDA says the product is safe.  Read more.