Brownback Tours Plant Making Finely Textured Beef, Defends Product

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback says a controversy over a processed beef product is being blown out of proportion.

Brownback is touring a plant in Nebraska today that makes the product known as finely textured beef. Critics call it "pink slime." It's used as a filler in hamburger. Brownback says the product has been used for decades and is proven to be safe.

"The reason I'm doing this is this is an unmerited, unwarranted food scare," Brownback said. "This is a product that's been out in the marketplace for over 20 years."

The controversy has caused the shutdown of a factory in Holcomb that makes finely textured beef.

Want to find out more about the finely textured/slime situation? Check out Harvest Public Media's coverage here and here.