McDonald’s Confirms It Is No Longer Using “Pink Slime” In Its Hamburger Meat

Just in case my last McDonald's-related story didn't turn you off from fast food for a while, I've got another one for you.

Last week, McDonald's announced that it has stopped using the chemical ammonium hydroxide, otherwise known as "pink slime," in its hamburger meat. In an official press release, the fast food giant confirmed that it has discontinued its use of "select lean beef trimmings," as they call it, as of August of 2011.

The chemical is also used in household cleaners, fertilizers, and even homemade explosives. It is also supposedly widely-used throughout the U.S. food industry as an anti-microbial agent to make otherwise "inedible" meat safe for human consumption.

First of all, that's pretty disgusting, and I shudder to think what other places may still be using this junk in their food. Second of all, this report from McDonald's came out shortly after celebrity chef Jamie Oliver ran a TV "expose" of sorts of the chemical's use in the U.S. food industry. Coincidence?