title: You say "lean finely textured beef," I say "pink slime".
abstract: In 2012, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (ABC) broadcast a segment on its evening news show regarding the manufacture of "lean finely textured beef" by Beef Products, Inc. (BPI). The broadcast, as well as follow-up reports and social media communications, repeatedly referred to the product as "pink slime," a term originated by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) employee for the processed meat. The market backlash against the product was immediate and intense. Ultimately, BPI closed three processing plants, cut hundreds of jobs, and filed for bankruptcy. BPI sued ABC and others for food libel, defamation, and tortious interference. This research analyzes those claims and defenses and discusses the future of such cases.
authors: Rita-Marie Cain
authors: RM
authors: Reid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D019649:Food Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008402:Mass Media / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008460:Meat; D014481:United States