Pink Slime in Green Schools? 7 States Where It’s Still Allowed

Pink slime is used as filler at a ratio of no more than 25% of any product. This makes purchasing meat cheaper for school districts. According to the Politico, last fall, after a massive media uproar, thousands of schools backed away from pink slime as part of their lunch programs. This fall, seven states put in orders for 2 million pounds of beef with the USDA that may contain pink slime.

7 States That May Serve Pink Slime

If you live in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or Texas, it might be pink slime. Although last year at this time, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Texas refused to purchase meat products with pink slime, they have had a change of heart in the intervening time, presumably because of budgetary concerns.

Complying with the new school lunch nutrition standards that were rolled out last year has become even more rigorous and costly.

Pink Slime in LEED Certified Schools

Since Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Texas public school districts have opted into pink slime laced beef, they have also subjected their LEED Certified schools to this meat product. Pink slime is generally a local decision in these state; each individual district is able to make their own decisions about beef products, but the issue really comes down to labeling. In these seven states, students and parents, especially the ones who are financially depend on the school lunch program, have no choice in what they are eating, and in most cases have no clue what they are eating.

Parents send their kids to LEED Certified schools with the security that their children will be taught in a healthy environment. But even LEED schools serve up pink slime. Below are schools that could be subjecting their students to pink slime.

• Iowa - Northwood Renovation, Ames, IA, Certification in Progress
• Nebraska - New Lincoln Elementary School, Gering, NE, Gold Certification; Omaha Public Schools N. High Addition, Omaha, NE, Silver Certification
• South Dakota - St. Francis Indian School Gym Addition, St Francis, SD, Certification in Progress
• Illinois - South West Area High School, Chicago, IL, Platinum Certification; Carrie Busey Elementary School, Savoy, IL, Gold Certification
• Pennsylvania - Conewago Elementary School, Elizabethtown, PA, Gold Certification; Phineas Davis Elementary School, York, PA, Gold Certification; Ferguson Elementary School, York, PA, Platinum Certification
• Virginia - Masons Cove Elementary School, Salem, VA, Gold Certification; Glen Allen high School, Glen Allen, VA, Gold Certification; Brownsville Elementary School Additions, Crozet, VA, Gold Certification
• Texas - Frost Elementary School, Houston, TX, Silver Certification; Cibolo Green Elementary School, San Antonio, TX, Gold Certification; Madison HS AgriScience Building Phase 1, San Antonio, TX, Gold Certification

LEED's Increased Focus on Healthy Design

LEED is increasingly incorporating design for healthier occupants. Indeed, a LEED pilot credit "Design for Active Occupants" is an effort to encourage the design and development of fat burning buildings. However, USGBC, the arbiter of LEED, does not incorporate nutritional guidelines, or recommendations, in its systems for environmental design. And while it at least feels as if there is a disconnect between LEED certification, especially at the highest levels of Gold and Platinum, and the quality of food provided to students, this is not technically the case.

Until LEED leverages its muscle to influence nutrition, students in LEED certified buildings could still be eating pink slime for lunch.