Fresh & Easy Offers Slime-Free Beef Exchange

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market here said Monday it will have a "pink slime swap meat" Wednesday where customers can swap ground beef bought from other retailers for a package of the company's 80/20 ground beef.

"Fresh & Easy never has, and never will, use the ammonia-treated filler known as 'pink slime' in its ground beef," the company said.

"It is understandable that people would lose confidence in food retailers because of the use of pink slime," said Tim Mason, the chain's chief executive officer. "Fresh & Easy has never been about shortcuts or fillers — just high-quality fresh food that we produce ourselves, so we know it's the best."

Fresh & Easy said it grinds its own meat, using only fresh, never frozen, beef, with no artificial colors or flavors.

Discuss this Article 4

Anonymous (not verified)
on Mar 27, 2012

It's a shame that the #1 grocer (Kroger family) hasn't even bothered to say WHEN they will stop selling pink slime...just that they will.
Remke has announced (on their fb page) they will stop 3/31/12.
Now, Fresh & Easy is going above and beyond by exchanging pink slime meat (FROM COMPETITORS) for their REAL meat! THAT is a QUALITY store giving a FREE solution for customers' concerns (and a heck of a nice marketing move!), and SHOULD be a #1 grocer! If I had one in my area, I'd definitely give them some, if not all, of my business!

#1 is supposed to mean "lead by example;" and to "be a cut above" the others ... apparently, Kroger family of stores did NOT "get that memo."

Anonymous5 (not verified)
on Mar 28, 2012

Meijer stores have stopped selling pink slime beef too.

Anonymous (not verified)
on Mar 29, 2012

I wonder what executive woke up one morning and thought...I think ammonia treated fillers would be a good cheap way to make our product go farther. A lot of chains advertise three things - best price, best quality, and best service. It's IMPOSSIBLE to do all three. You can choose the lower road of the pricing scale for everything, but then you won't be getting the highest quality product, and you definitely won't be getting the best service. When was the last time you went to a grocery store and actually ENJOYED your visit? Not just rushed through as fast as you could to pick up what you needed, but had a good time and actually connected with employees? This is the reason to stay away away from mega-chains Kroger and Walmart. Look to the smaller chains and the independants in your area...you may be in for some big surprises.

Anonymous (not verified)
on May 6, 2012

It is important to remember that ammonia, or similar chemicals, are used to treat all processed food. Anything that is vacuum packaged, frozen, canned, or dried was probably treated in this manner.

Post new comment
Sign In or register to use your Supermarket News ID
(optional)

Sponsored by: Tyson Deli

SN’s Spotlight on Deli/Fresh Meals series profiles large chains and independent retailers who show innovation in their deli and fresh meals departments. Click Here

Twitter Facebook Youtube Iphone APP RSS Feeds Google Plus