Giant To Stop Selling 'Pink Slime'

"Pink slime" no more -- for local and Safeway stores.

Giant Food, a top regional grocery chain based in Landover, on Thursday declared it would stop selling meat with a finely textured beef additive also known as "pink slime."

The company is among a number of stores that have stopped carrying the product because of customer concern. Food regulators, however, say pink slime passes food safety standards.

Giant on Thursday released a statement saying:

"While [the U.S. Department of Agriculture] has indicated this product is safe for consumption and complies with all applicable standards for lean beef, many of our customers have voiced concern regarding Finely Textured Beef," the company said in a statement. "We value the trusted relationship we have with our customers and their feedback on this issue."

Safeway, among other chains, has also stopped carrying the product, as a social media outcry quickly made the public aware of and concerned about the product.

In a , the USDA said:

“USDA continues to affirm the safety of Lean Finely Textured Beef product for all consumers and urges customers to consult science-based information on the safety and quality of this product. Lean Finely Textured Beef is a meat product derived from a process which separates fatty pieces from beef trimmings to reduce the overall fat content.”

Did 'Pink Slime' make you feel slimey? What do you think of the grocery store's decision?