by kelsey | Mar 29, 2012 | Etc., Food
If you have read, listened, or watched the news lately, most likely you have heard about the “pink slime” or lean finely textured beef. There is a lot of hype about this in the media which results in a lot of confusion and questions. As consumers we want to make sure we access high quality, safe food, thus I wanted to share with you the facts about the lean finely textured beef.
This information is from Registered Dietitian Holly Swee, who works with the South Dakota Beef Industry Council.
- “Lean finely textured beef is just that. Beef. When steaks and roasts are cut, it creates the “trim” that becomes ground beef. The companies supplying lean finely textured beef use a process to remove a lot of the fat from the lean beef in the trim, which is then added to ground beef as a concentrated, lean source of protein. Though some media outlets are reporting this product is a filler, that’s not true. It’s beef plain and simple.
- The nutritional profiles of lean finely textured beef and traditional ground beef are nearly identical. Lean finely textured beef is 90%-to-95% lean (5%-10% fat) and, just like all beef, is a good or excellent source of 10 essential nutrients including protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins.
- Lean finely textured beef offers affordable nutrition for kids, which is critical given shrinking school budgets, rising food costs and the fact that for many kids, school lunch is their best chance at a getting a well-balanced meal during the day.
- Ground beef that includes lean finely textured beef is safe according to independent scientists, safety advocates and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). By law, E. coli and Salmonella cannot be in meat supplied for school lunch. In some cases, a small, safe amount of ammonia gas or citric acid is used to produce the lean finely textured beef, which like other safety measures along the way, reduces the potential for bacterial contamination. FSIS has reviewed and approved this practice as safe, and safety advocates have applauded it as an effective way of ensuring safe beef for consumers.
- Processing aids like ammonia gas, citric acid and others do not appear singled out on food labels because by definition and by law, they do not affect the finished food. According to the Food and Drug Administration, labeling of “incidental additives” like these processing aids would be impracticable and might draw undue attention to what essentially amounts to meaningless trace amounts.
You may be wondering if we’re talking about the same product after all you’ve heard or read about “pink slime,” but the fact is, the gross descriptions of this product and process that are circulating out there just aren’t true. Lean finely textured beef is simply a low-fat source of beef protein, that when added to ground beef, is just another ingredient in the ground beef dishes you know and love.
There are a number of resources available if you’re interested in learning more or looking for information to share, including: a fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Agriculture; video of the process from one of the lean finely textured beef suppliers, Beef Products Inc.; an interview and expert Q&A with Dr. Russell Cross, former FSIS administrator and current head of the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University; and a “pink slime” myth debunking website.”
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact myself or Holly.
-Kelsey Raml, MS, RD, LN
by kelsey | Mar 22, 2012 | Etc., Food
The warmer weather, turning of green grass, and birds chirping are signs spring is here! Spring is always a great time to do some “spring” cleaning! We often think about spring cleaning in regards to the outside of our house such as cleaning windows, etc, however it’s also really important to take a good look at the inside of your house, especially the inside of your fridge and freezer. Take look at the food products inside your fridge, if anything is expired or has a signficant odor, cleaning is a must! First off, empty your fridge so that you can really clean inside. You can use a vinegar water (equal parts) solution to wipe the inside out. The acid in vinegar helps destroy mildew. Then wash inside the fridge with a baking soda and water solution. Be sure to scrub the gaskets, shelves, sides, and doors. If able, allow several days to air out. If your fridge is extra smelly, you can sprinkly fresh coffee grounds or baking soda loosely in the bottom of your fridge or place them in an open container. Another option is to place a cotton swab soaked with vanilla inside freezer and close the door for 24 hours.
“For more information on how to keep your refrigerator safe and clean, check out our Refrigerator Safety Tips and visit homefoodsafety.org.”
Reference: http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6442468402
Happy Spring Cleaning!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Mar 20, 2012 | Etc.
Today is an exciting day for us! We are ending our winter STRIVE and starting our spring STRIVE…and it’s the first day of spring! As we look forward to more warmer weather and sunny days, it’s a great time to put YOU first by improving your health and wellness. We still have some room in our spring program, so if you are interested in learning more or getting enrolled, contact us today! Our first meeting is tonight at 5:30pm at the County Fair Banquet Hall. We look forward to another great group as we work together to STRIVE 2 Survive!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Mar 15, 2012 | Etc.
Yesterday RD’s celebrated around the country as it was National Registered Dietitian Day! Nutrition is one of the leading lifestyle factors in disease prevention and health promotion. RD’s provide nutrition therapy by applying our science and medical background into practical and applicable ways for people to improve their nutrition status. We are highly qualified food and nutrition experts who have met the academic and professional requirements, which include earning at least a bachelor’s degree, completing a supervised practiced program, and passing a national registration exam. In addition, continuing education is a requirement in order to keep our registration active.
Registered Dietitians offer a wide variety of knowledge and experience in various settings from clinical, community, media, and public poliy. The RD can provide the patient or client with a condident, accurate, and credible information.
The term “nutritionist” is often used, however it’s very important to recognize that many states do not have licensure regulations for this term, so anyone can call themselves a “nutritionist” without the proper qualifications. South Dakota does have a licensure law and requires all Registered Dietitians to be licensed with the state. The initials “LN” indicate Licensed Nutritionist behind my name. Credentials are essential for ensuring you are getting safe, accurate, and science-based nutrition information.
As we prepare for our spring session of STRIVE 2 Survive, it’s important to recognize the signficance of credentials and quality professionals in mind! STRIVE 2 Survive has a team of outstanding and highly qualified health professionals. All of our providers are board certified and licensed in their own discipline and speciality, thus providing the NE South Dakota area with a top notch team to help you live a healthier lifestyle!
We are still accepting participants for our spring session that starts March 20th. Contact us today to get enrolled!
-Kelsey Raml, MS, RD, LN
by kelsey | Mar 12, 2012 | Etc.
With the warmer temps, you may be thinking about spring cleaning and more time for outside activities. Spring is a time of growth and renewal and a perfect time to put YOU first! Our spring session of STRIVE 2 Survive starts next Tuesday, March 20th. Contact us now to get learn more and get enrolled!
You can email us at strive2survive@brownclinic.org or call us at 886-8482.
by kelsey | Mar 1, 2012 | Etc.
It’s time for a new YOU! Our spring session of STRIVE 2 Survive will be starting March 20th and run through the end of May. It’s the perfect time to put YOU first and learn more about ways to improve your health and wellness. It’s a 12 week program where we meet 6 out of the 12 weeks (the other weeks, you’ll get a take home lesson) on Tuesday nights at the County Fair Banquet Hall from 5:30-6:30pm (see calendar for dates).
There are two main components: diet and exercise, however we do encompass many other aspects of health and wellness by involving several of our outstanding doctors to discuss how diabetes, heart disease, obesity, etc affects our body and health as well as our Pharmacist Deidra VanGilder who shares her expertise with us regarding medications, vitamins, minerals, and supplements and their relationship to health and wellness. STRIVE 2 Survive is led by myself, Kelsey Raml, Registered Dietitian and Certified in Weight Management with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Dr. Dan Reiffenberger, who is Board Certified in Family Practice and Sports Medicine and was most recently selected as the South Dakota Family Physician of the Year.
Whether you are newly diagnosed with diabetes, have been struggling with your weight, or you just want to learn more about health and wellness, contact us today to learn more! Spring is a great time to focus a new YOU!STRIVE 2 Survive applies to all who have a heartbeat!
For more information you can email: strive2survive@brownclinic.org or call 886-8482.
-Kelsey
