WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Hy-Vee says some customers were unhappy with the grocery chain's decision not to sell ground beef with the ingredient known as pink slime, so the company now plans to offer beef with and without the ingredient.
Hy-Vee spokeswoman Ruth Comer said Wednesday the chain heard complaints from consumers in communities where pink slime is made, such as South Sioux City, Neb.
Hy-Vee announced last week that it planned to stop offering beef at its 235 stores with pink slime, which is officially known as lean finely textured beef. It's made from bits of leftover meat.
The term pink slime was coined by a federal microbiologist grossed out by it.
Federal regulators say the product meets food safety standards, but critics say it's an unappetizing example of industrialized food production.