BPI closes Garden City plant after controversy

BPI directed us to www.beefisbeef.com.  The website explains how "Lean Finely Textured Beef" is made.  It starts with beef trimmings-- smaller pieces of fat that contain small portions of beef.  The trimmings are heated to 100 degrees in a high-speed mixing bowl that separates the meat from the fat.  The website says ammonia combined with water-- can be used in processing-- to control harmful bacteria.  LFTB is eventually blended into ground beef.  The website says this is done to maximize as much lean beef as possible.

In March, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback declared "lean, finely textured beef" safe and reminded consumers it is USDA-approved.  BPI employees also joined what they called a "truth rally" about the product.  Still, the image wasn't cleaned-up and consumers called-on schools and grocery stores to ban the use of it.  Now, the Kansas Livestock Association says consumers could pay the price as the country faces its smallest cow herd since 1955.

"Taking this out of the mix will result in higher prices that will ultimately get passed along to the consumer,” Domer said.

But for employees like Martinez, the controversy has cost him his job.

"It's going to be hard to find a job that pays me what I make.  More than likely, I will have to take a job with lesser pay," Martinez said.

BPI is also closing plants in Amarillo, Texas and Waterloo, Iowa. The company is cutting a total of 650 jobs.  It will keep its South Sioux City, Nebraska plant open.