No 'Pink Slime' In D-211, D-15 Lunches

does not use the food additive known as 'pink slime' in its school lunches.

The additive, which consists of spare beef trimmings treated with ammonium hydroxide, has been in the news lately. The Huffington Post reported that McDonald's, Taco Bell and Burger King will not use it.

On March 8, District 211 put out a statement regarding 'pink slime,' explaining that the additive is not used in school lunches. District 211 has five schools, including Fremd and Palatine high schools.

"It's something we wanted to head off," District 211 spokesperson Tom Peterson said. "Based on media reports we thought there might be some questions from the public."

District 211 issued its statement about 'pink slime' the same day the Huffington Post reported that 7 million pounds of the additive was being purchased by the federal govenment for use in the nation's school lunch program.

District 211 receives its ground beef directly from the government and then the meat is sent to two food reprocessing plants where it is turned into meatballs, hamburgers, and chili.

"District 211 has contacted both companies, and each has stated that it does not use the food additive treated with ammonium hydroxide, commonly referred to as 'pink slime,' in its reprocessing of ground beef for High School District 211," a statement on District 211's website states.

The statement explains that 'pink slime' is a "beef filler product" and "is used as an antimicrobial, and is classified by the United States Food and Drug Administration as generally safe."

The statement asks that any with additional questions contact the Food Service Department at 847-755-6682.

District 15 Superintendent Scott Thompson said that the elementary school district also does not use the food additive.

"District 15 has contacted our suppliers, and the answer is 'NO,'" Thompson wrote on Palatine Patch. "They have assured us they do not have meat created by using this process."