View Full Version : Kroger ground meat has "added natural flavoring"
I'm calling them tomorrow about it. I bought 3# today (please no vegetarian comments) and got a closer look at the label later and I couldn't believe it said "added natural flavoring". What the heck is that? Could be just about anything. I googled it and it could be anything from rosemary oil, to MSG, to pink slime etc. I lost my appetite. I wonder if they would take it back with 1 hamburger's worth of it used. For awhile, I was grinding up chuck roasts for hamburger, but I quit doing that. I may have to go back to that.
I don't mind using the whole cow, but I want to know what's in it, besides cow.
Umm, ick! I'd avoid that too.
We're pretty much in the grind your own business any more. Just no other way to be sure what your getting. Even then its a total dice roll unless you've been able to visit your cow prior to packaging.
As long as it is edible, why worry? If it is not edible, take it back. In the future, I would trade with another grocer. I spend waaay less money at Krogers than I used to.
I think Kroger is on the record as not using pink slime--it's probably some soy product. It should say "contains wheat or soy" or some such on the label though, to warn the allergic.
This is why I only buy meat from people I know.
I called the local Kroger meat department (where I got this) and the guy said "Duhhhhhh..........I never heard of that." DUH.......you're selling the danged stuff!
So I called the manager of the store and he said I could definitely get a refund. He said "You're very perceptive, as I haven't even noticed that." DUH. He said he would pass on the information.
Why are they allowed to add things without saying what they are? People have a bunch of reasons to be concerned with the contents of their food (allergies, gluten, etc.), so why not list it, unless the company is afraid we wouldn't buy the stuff.
Okay..........now I'm rethinking some things.
At our local store if its the burger that comes on the styrofoam tray with plastic wrap they at least grind it in house. The stuff that comes in little logs comes from....elsewhere. All bets are off with that stuff. I should mention that our local store is a one trick pony and not part of a national chain. Not that they wouldn't add whatever to the meat, its more that they would have to specifically source it out and dump it in at the store. Even knowing that we still take various cuts and grind them up ourselves if we run out of the stuff that comes from having our annual cow processed.
This is the reason why I usually buy meat and grind it at home or have someone in the meat department grind it for me. I am glad you caught it.
This is the main reason we have stopped buying processed anything other than things like canned tomatos. You just don't know what's in it anymore. I would imagine it's something fairly benign like a salt water solution but who knows? Commercial ground meat is kind of a gross concept anyway with hundreds of different animals thrown into a vat...at least that's how I visualize it. DH is in the food biz so I read a lot of his trade magazines - there are whole industries built on flavoring additives to add to processed foods. Many of the major chains like Kroger's and Safeway are experiencing a decline in sales as customers (who can afford it) are shopping at places like Whole Foods and Natural Grocers where food is "clean." Take a look at the Food Babe website for some more fun info.
Our local Kroger has gone to what look like pre-packaged ground beef........in the styrofoam. It's all 1# or 3# and it's all exactly the same weight and price.
I would NEVER buy those logs in the plastic. Seems like those are the ones that have been recalled the most often.
I emailed them about this, and they said they'd get back with me. We'll see!
There's a place about 20 miles from here that is a "Butcher Shop". Supposedly they use only local beef. I might check them out.......but I know it's going to be really expensive.
I guess you could say I just don't trust anyone anymore. I could probably buy a cow from a local farmer who says he doesn't use hormones, etc., but then I'd have to have it processsed at a local place......and who knows if it ends up being the same cow, by the time I get it?
So, has anyone seen the mooovveee "Soylent Green"? Maybe that is what they are using in the meat.
CathyA, when we raise beef/pork, we have a place that processes it for us - the farmer will probably be able to recommend someone. The place that we use will give you a tour so you can judge by yourself about the cleanliness of the facility. My personal rule of thumb is that if it stinks, I won't buy meat there.
SteveinMN
10-8-14, 12:54pm
This is why I only buy meat from people I know.
+1. Shenanigans like these are also why I don't eat ground beef unless I bought it myself or there is no other good choice.
Okay........word from Kroger is that the only additive is rosemary. I've asked them in what form and where it comes from.
But seriously..........why can't they just say "rosemary added".
Hmmm.....just found this article about its use. Makes me feel a little better about it.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22648756
Rosemary--WTH? I'm more confused than ever...
ApatheticNoMore
10-8-14, 7:41pm
Rosemary--WTH? I'm more confused than ever...
I know, my first reponse is well if it has rosemary can't you taste it? Rosemary has a strong taste. Then I thought they may be adding it to meat to make it taste better - pre-seasoned meat (although isn't rosemary more traditional with lamb than beef? Though I could see the flavors working).
Apparently they are adding some sythetic extraction of rosemary to the meat to preserve it, which might not be unhealthy, it could even be healthy - rosemary seems in the same family as mint thyme basil known to have health properties. Although if it was extracted like say "oil of oregano" is it would have a taste (strong!). So what do they do to extract without altering the flavorof the meat?
That's interesting--especially that it doesn't flavor the meat. I'm not particularly fond of rosemary, so I'd rather not taste it in random food items.
So, has anyone seen the mooovveee "Soylent Green"? Maybe that is what they are using in the meat.
Was it rosemary the plant or... Rosemary?!? (Halloween cometh.)
Blackdog Lin
10-8-14, 9:31pm
hee hee. :)
Yeah--first the baby, and now this...
SteveinMN
10-9-14, 12:42pm
So what do they do to extract without altering the flavorof the meat?
Back in the days of yore, the Pennsylvania Railroad had a color they called "Pennsylvania Green". There were lots of jokes about how the color recipe was a drop of green paint to a zillion gallons of black paint -- pretty much indistinguishable. But someone could tell the difference. I don't know if FDA rules require the disclosure of additives beyond a certain level, but that may be the case here. Though I still think that's an odd choice for an additive in ground beef....
I think it all has to do with preserving. Rosemary supposedly inhibits bacteria. I've never found any bugs in all the rosemary I've dried......
I've heard that oregano oil is good to keep bacteria out of the body. Probably smells too strong for anything. haha
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.