logo
Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Did McDonald's lose a legal battle with chef Jamie Oliver over lean finely textured beef treated with ammonium hydroxide?

By Sarah Thompson
NO

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver did not win a legal battle with McDonald's over the byproduct, known as "pink slime." He did draw attention to it in 2011. McDonald's then dropped it from their burgers but maintained the decision was not brought about by "any particular event."

Between 2009 and 2012, media outlets raised concerns about the sterilization process, which involves spraying ammonium hydroxide gas on lean finely textured beef to raise its alkalinity and control bacteria. NBC incorrectly suggested—as Oliver did—that ammonium hydroxide was poured over the meat product as a liquid.

Ammonium hydroxide is used in the production of many foods: cheeses, puddings, chocolate, and as a leavening agent in breads. The FDA affirms it as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) in appropriate concentrations. The additive is banned in Canada and the EU.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
FACT BRIEF BY
facebook
twitter
email
email