DES MOINES, Iowa (KTIV) -
It's caught the attention of those in Siouxland and around the country.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad held a press conference in Des Moines Wednesday afternoon to address concerns and educate the public about the processing of lean, finely textured beef, or LFTB.
LFTB trimmings have less fat than regular ground beef, and are healthier and safer because the chemical treatment kills off bacteria, like E. coli.
The governor says Iowa has been pushing to become the healthiest state in the nation, and products manufactured by BPI can play a large role, especially for younger people.
Branstad and Vilsack agree that the bad publicity surrounding the form of processing is hurting jobs in the state.
They say it's difficult to trace where this "slogan" started. They say it's important to bring in all of the expert advice they can find to reinforce these products are safe.
"That's why we're going to have people from Iowa State University and Texas A&M and knowledgeable people from USDA counter the smear and counter the misinformation with the facts," said Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.
Tom Vilsack says it's the responsibility of the USDA to listen to concerns of school districts about using the beef in the schools, and give them a choice in selecting their school lunches.
But he hopes those administrators and buyers alike will continue to learn the facts before making a decision.
