DAKOTA DUNES, SD -
States across the country say no, choosing not to serve "lean, finely textured beef" in schools.
It's the latest in the saga surrounding Beef Products Incorporated's "l-f-t-b," 47 states will not offer the product to schools.
After the USDA gave schools and states a choice on whether or not to use "l-f-t-b," only three: Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska have decided to offer the product to schools.
The folks who support BPI say they'll keep fighting for "l-f-t-b."
It's lean, finely textured beef, and after months of social media frenzy just about everyone in Siouxland knows all about it.
Now kids in 47 states won't have the option of eating it at school.
"I don't think it was a complete surprise due to the mischaracterization of the product," said Lindsey Kovarna, a corporate recruiter with BPI Technology, Inc.
A few months ago the US Department of Agriculture gave schools a choice to make ground beef containing "l-f-t-b" available as part of the "National School Lunch Program."
Only schools in Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska will offer "l-f-t-b" in schools.
"We chose to order the same product that we always have," said Staci Hupp, a spokeswoman with the Iowa Department of Education.
The Iowa Department of Education says it didn't get any complaints from schools about "l-f-t-b."
In fact health benefits made the decision to keep it an easy choice.
"This product is one that makes school lunches healthier at a time when we're all concerned about childhood obesity," said Hupp.
The folks who support "l-f-t-b" say the decision to stop serving BPI's beef could end up being an expensive decision.
"The school lunch program may have to purchase a higher price low quality beef," said Kovarna. "Which could cause a problem for the budget."
From here on out, the name of the game is transparency, getting the facts about "l-f-t-b" out there with web sites like www.beefisbeef.com and www.peopleforthetruth.com, as well as social media outlets.
"We welcomed people into our facility as you can see, we had the tour," said Kovarna. "Any questions or concerns, that's kind of what People For The Truth is about too, you know, we want to educate people if they have concerns."
As they say the fight to get "l-f-t-b" back in stores and schools across the country is far from over.
FOX 44 contacted both the Kansas Department of Education and the Texas Department of Agriculture to find out why those states decided not to offer "l-f-t-b" to schools.
Both departments said the choice to order "l-f-t-b" is up to individual schools, not states.
Kansas and Texas are home to BPI plants that closed down after the social media frenzy surrounding "l-f-t-b."
If you'd like to get the facts about "l-f-t-b," and learn more about the product, as well as read blogs about "l-f-t-b," please visit: www.beefisbeef.com and www.peopleforthetruth.com
