Who do you work for?

There is a line in one of my favorite John Wayne movies, McClintock, that pretty much sums up how I feel about my family's part in the beef industry. "Everybody works for somebody, and I work for anybody that steps into a butcher shop and orders up a T-Bone steak", Mr. Wayne in character was talking to his future son in law and explaining the responsibility it takes to do a job right.

We ( my brother, mother, and I) don't run the biggest outfit in terms of numbers of animals, but we do take pride in the product we produce. I know that our efforts of maintaining a cow-calf herd in South Texas through drought, disease, and pestilence make a significant contribution in providing a high quality, nutritious, safe food product. No, our cattle may not ever be served at the table of the fanciest steak house in town, but they will end up as part of the Hamburger Helper or other nutritious value meals that the single mother of three is counting on to fill her kids stomachs and give them the strength they need to grow and thrive. That's who we work for! The hard working American family that relies on U.S. Beef to feed their families and provide a nutritious part of a quality meal.

So I take exception when critics slander the hard work of thousands of people who strive to bring that high quality animal to the dinner table where it will be consumed. This whole "pink slime" eruption by activists has cost a lot of good working people their jobs as plants are being shut down and people laid off. The label was unwarranted, but the media running with it was even worse. There has been no scientific research that shows "pink slime" technically known as, lean finely textured beef, to be harmful. In fact, one company that had to shut down 3 of it's 4 plants, BPI, has an exemplary track record and continuously tests their products above the bar of government standards for pathogens in food supply.

The process of lean finely textured beef increased the amount of lean beef available cheaply to consumers. What will be the result of not having BPI and other companies that produce this product? Beef prices that are pretty high now due to the other costs of inputs will climb even higher. Making it even harder for the family trying to eat healthy and live within their means. Because a few who didn't care about the truth of the system sought to destroy it with rumors, un-true videos, and outright lies.

All I can say is that we Americans have the safest food sources in the world. There is always room for change and growth, but our standards are bar-none compared to any other country in the world. However, when rumors create chaos which leads to havoc we should be ashamed! Google whatever you want about "pink slime" or "lean finely textured beef" and you'll find more truth and science in how this product is not harmful to anyone. Read both sides and decide for yourself, but seriously study the research and I believe you'll find that this product was extremely helpful in making a healthy food source more abundantly available to all. Because, we the American cattle producer, work for anyone that steps into a grocery store and picks up a pound of ground round to feed their family.


Thanks,
LB