Just when you thought the “pink slime” controversy was in the past and that the discovery of mad-cow disease had blown over, the forces that be now bring yet another cause for carnivore concern: calls for an investigation into ‘meat glue.’
Officially, it’s known as transglutaminase, an enzyme in powder form that brings protein closer together – permanently.
Occasionally, the so-called reformed meat is served up by food suppliers, restaurants and others who use it to patch various pieces of meat into a single steak or some other amalgamated chunk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration deems it to be safe – “generally.”
But state Sen. Ted W. Lieu of Torrance wants to know what’s in his filet mignon. In a letter to the USDA, Lieu is calling for an investigation into “meat glue,” which he said may be dangerous for some consumers.
He said that better labeling is necessary for meats that have been bound together with the product because outer meat portions that are more easily contaminated may end up in the middle of a larger piece.
The glue, he said, may cause allergic reactions and could also make tracing potential food-borne illnesses more difficult when different parts of different animals are combined.
They should investigate oxygen. Too much “may” kill. How would a ban on that work out?
As for this idiot, send him copies of Iron Chef.
If that’s the problem, the solution is to have pieces of meat with no outside surfaces.