Nearly three weeks into a jury trial, ABC News and Beef Products Inc. settled—out of court—the meat processor’s suit seeking $1.9 billion in damages for reporting that referred to its “lean finely textured beef,” made from beef trimmings, as “pink slime.” BPI said it was forced to close three of its four processing plants in the wake of the stories, which questioned the safety of the product.
Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The New York Times reported that BPI said the settlement would provide “a strong foundation on which to grow the business” and that its lawsuit “again established what we all know to be true about lean finely processed textured beef: It is beef, and is safe, wholesome, and nutritious.” An ABC spokeswoman said ABC News has not retracted or apologized for its reporting. She said the two sides reached “an amicable resolution.”
“BPI’s signature product, commonly mixed into ground beef, is made from beef chunks, including trimmings, and exposed to bursts of ammonium hydroxide to kill E. coli and other contaminants,” said Reuters. “A former microbiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is credited with having coined the term ‘pink slime.’ ”
A University of Georgia law professor told the news agency the case would not set a precedent because it ended in a settlement, but that it could discourage news coverage of sensitive issues. “If that happens, it’s the public who suffers by missing out on valuable information about important matters,” said professor Sonja West.