What's happening
This bill bans the sale of food containing "pink slime" (boneless lean beef trimmings) in New York public schools.
Why it matters
Addresses Health and Nutrition Concerns. By banning "pink slime" in public schools, the bill aims to protect children from consuming a highly processed meat product that has raised health and safety concerns, particularly due to its exposure to ammonia gas as a disinfectant.
Increases Transparency in School Food. The bill explicitly defines "boneless lean beef trimmings" and mandates their exclusion from school meals, ensuring families know more about what their children are eating and aligning school food offerings with higher food quality standards.
Responds to Public Outcry and Consumer Preferences. The use of "pink slime" in food has been controversial and widely criticized; this legislation reflects growing demand from parents and the public for more natural, less industrially processed foods in schools.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Pink Slime in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3429
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to prohibiting the sale of food and food products containing boneless lean beef trimmings, commonly referred to as "pink slime", in schools
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 915-a to read as follows:
§ 915-a. Prohibiting the sale of food and food products containing boneless lean beef trimmings. 1. No food or food product containing boneless lean beef trimmings shall be sold in any public school within the state.
2. For purposes of this section the term "boneless lean beef trimmings" shall mean and refer to the industrial product commonly referred to as "pink slime" which is created by passing bones through a centrifuge after the limits of mechanically trimming such bones has been reached in order to salvage any meaty materials remaining on such bones, and then exposing such meaty materials to ammonia gas as a disinfectant treatment.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06571-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to prohibiting the sale of food and food products containing boneless lean beef trimmings, commonly referred to as "pink slime", in schools
Purpose
Prohibits the sale of food and food products containing boneless lean beef trimmings, commonly referred to as "pink slime", in schools.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: amends the education law by adding a new section 915-a to read: Prohibiting the sale of food and food products containing boneless lean beef trimmings.
1. No food or food product containing boneless lean beef trimmings shall be sold in any public school within the state.
2. For purposes of this section the term "boneless lean beef trimmings" shall mean and refer to the industrial product commonly referred to as "pink slime" which is created by passing bones through a centrifuge after the limits of mechanically trimming such bones has been reached in order to salvage any meaty materials remaining on such bones, and then exposing such meaty materials to ammonia gas as a disinfectant treatment.
Justification
Whenever a cow is butchered there are pieces that are cut off that aren't considered "for" human consumption. There is a greater risk for E. call and other nasty stuff in those parts of the cow These parts are typically used mainly just for pet food. Using a centrifuge they can separate the fat from the meat. Once they salvage this meat, there still is the concern of potential illness to humans. The chemical ammonia is then used to kill whatever bacteria may still exist. McDonald's, Burger King, and Taco Bell, once known to use this product have all stopped using pink slime. At a time when we as a state and even as a nation are pulling together to promote healthier lifestyles and eating habits, why would we subject our children to eating food that has until now only been fed to our animals? Students within our schools whose bodies and minds are growing and in need of the highest forms of nutrition, should not be subjected to eating substandard food products that hold very little if any nutritional value.
Legislative history
S.1768(2015-16)- Referred to Education S.6271(2014)-Referred to Education S.2994(2013)-Referred to Education S.6786(2012)-Referred to Education
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect the 30th day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.