Schools that source their ground beef from the federal government will now have the choice of purchasing it with or without a controversial ingredient called "pink slime". Until now, schools were unaware of whether the ground beef supplied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for school lunches contained a product known as "Lean Finely Textured Beef". Lean finely textured beef is derived from beef-fat trimmings and has been subject to scrutiny due to its composition. Unlike muscle meat, it contains more serum and connective-tissue proteins and less myofibrillar proteins. Additionally, it is treated with ammonium hydroxide to eliminate certain strains of E. coli and salmonella bacteria. However, concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of ammonia in preventing the spread of these harmful bacteria.
The USDA announced today that, in response to customer demand, schools will have the option to choose whether to include Lean Finely Textured Beef in their ground beef products. While the USDA maintains that the product is safe for consumption, it acknowledges the public’s concerns and is taking steps to provide schools with more flexibility in their procurement specifications.
The recent controversy surrounding pink slime was sparked by an article published in The Daily, in which former USDA food inspectors shared their experiences at a facility operated by Beef Products Inc., the producer of lean finely textured beef. Microbiologist Gerald Zirnstein expressed his reservations about considering the product as ground beef. This story prompted children’s food blogger and lawyer Bettina Siegel to launch an online petition urging the USDA to stop using ground beef containing pink slime in the National School Lunch Program. The petition quickly gained traction and amassed over a quarter of a million signatures in just over a week.
Campaigners, such as Sarah Ryan from Change.org, view the USDA’s decision as a significant victory for consumers, considering the bureaucratic nature of the department. The concerns raised in recent weeks have caused some school districts to receive inquiries from parents about the beef products served in school lunches. One district in California responded by sharing a statement from its beef vendor, affirming that it does not supply the district with meat containing Lean Finely Textured Beef. Several federal lawmakers, including U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, have voiced their concerns about the safety of this meat product and its potential health risks for students who have limited control over their food choices.
It is worth noting that pink slime is not limited to school lunches but has also been used in beef products sold in grocery stores and served at certain restaurants for years.
Your assignment is to rephrase the entire text using improved vocabulary and ensure it is unique and written in natural language. The output should be in English. The given text is as follows:
"Global warming is the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. These activities release greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), into the atmosphere, which trap heat and raise the temperature of the planet. The consequences of global warming are extensive and impact various aspects of life on Earth. They include rising sea levels, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like hurricanes and droughts, loss of biodiversity, and disruptions to ecosystems. It is crucial for us to address global warming through sustainable practices and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate its harmful effects on our planet and future generations."