Proof in the Pink? Meat Treated to Give It Fresh Look

Nov. 14, 2007 — -- For many meat eaters the proof is in the pink. They use the meat's color as a guideline to determine the food's freshness. But, many meat manufacturers actually inject the food with carbon monoxide to give it that fresh, reddish-pink look.

Japan and Canada along with many other countries in Europe, have banned the use of carbon monoxide in meat. Lawmakers in congressional hearings this week are debating whether the producers should be allowed to continue the process in the United States.

While the Food and Drug Administration has said the practice isn't dangerous, some consumers disagree.

"At worst, it's dangerous. At best, it's a consumer rip-off," said Wenonah Hauter, of Food and Water Watch.

But, industry manufacturers have defended their use of carbon monoxide-treated meat. The problem arises because even perfectly good meat begins turning brown when it's exposed to oxygen. So, many meat manufacturers treat beef and pork with carbon monoxide.

The carbon monoxide binds with a pigment in the meat and keeps the colors vibrant and red.

"What this packaging technology allows us to do is to maintain the red color consumers are used to purchasing," said Randy Huffman, of the American Meat Institute.

Yet, during the hearings some Congress members couldn't be swayed and grilled the companies about the practice. They called the practice unsafe and misleading, and to make their point, they displayed a 2-year-old package of meat that still looked pink and fresh, thanks to carbon monoxide injection.

"One of the packages in front of you is 2 years old. Is that not a problem?" asked Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill.

"It is critical that the use-by date be adhered to," Daniel Engeljohn, of the USDA food safety and inspection service responded.

Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., and chairman of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, reportedly called the practice deceptive and "a potential health threat," and accused U.S. regulators of "turning a blind eye" toward health dangers.

Earlier this year, Stupak launched a probe into the practice and has proposed the use of a safety notice on meat and fish products treated with carbon monoxide.