Photo Gallery: Producers, Consumers Stand Together To Support BPI Lean Finely Textured Beef

Apr. 2, 2012

The Siouxland Chamber of Commerce in Sioux City, IA, organized a public picnic and rally on March 31 in support of lean finely textured beef and its maker, BPI Inc., Attendees were supplied with free hamburgers with all the fixings. Attendees had the opportunity to pick up a button and information about LFTB and BPI as they entered the area.
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad was among the dignitaries who participated in the noon program on Saturday to thank those attending the hamburger feed for their support of BPI and the Siouxland area. Eldon Roth, CEO of BPI (left), was also on hand to offer his thanks to the public.
This sign, “Jim, it’s beef!” is in reference to Jim Avila, the ABC News reporter to produced the recent sensational “pink slime” reports that reinvigorated the campaign to remove lean finely textured beef from the offerings of several major food retailers in the U.S.
Numerous signs in support of BPI and lean finely textured beef were in evidence at the Saturday event in Sioux City, IA.
Dude, it’s beef!” has become a rallying cry for LFTB and BPI supporters against those who have falsely claimed that LFTB is a filler in ground beef.
Beefisbeef.com and #beefisbeef are online tools working to get the facts out about LFTB. In addition, a Facebook page has gathered more than 15,000 followers. That is that LFTB is a category of beef products that uses high-technology food processing equipment to separate lean meat from fat because doing it by hand would be impossible. LFTB products prevent the waste of valuable, lean, nutritious, safe, beef by using technology to do what hands cannot.
A group of kids exhorts drivers passing by the Saturday event to honk in support of BPI and LFTB.
Beef Products, Inc. is the world's leading producer of lean beef processed from fresh beef trimmings. BPI® Boneless Lean Beef, is approximately 94% lean beef, and made with great attention to food safety and quality. BPI's lean beef is a part of nearly 20 billion meals/year, with an unsurpassed food safety record, adding over $250 Million in value to the U.S. beef industry annually.
The serving line during at the Saturday event included plenty of free tasty burgers for the public, as well as all the fixings.
L to R: Ted Paulsrud, Kevin Carstensen and Mason Fleenor, members of Iowa's Ida County Cattlemen's Association, were among the many groups who brought in grills to help prepare hamburger's for the event.
Guests enjoyed a cold refreshment and hamburgers at the event in Sioux City, IA on Saturday.
Guests of all ages enjoyed hamburger, chips, beverages and ice cream. In addition to a grandstand that provided music, Sioux City businesses provided games for children and information booths throughout the event.
Among those thanking the crowd for their support and attendance Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (white t-shirt), and Eldon Roth (BPI CEO) and Rep. Steve King (R-IA) in the black t-shirts.
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) proudly displays the t-shirt that became popular overnight and touts the fact that LFTB is pure beef. The t-shirts are available from Mark It in Sioux City, IA. Contact Mark It at 712-255-7979 or email markitcp.com.
Betty Lou Law, Cherokee, IA, says she and her husband used to raise beef and they have purchased BPI's product through local Hy-Vee stores for years and have no qualms about the quality and safety of the product.
The tables were packed with the public enjoying hamburgers and all the fixings, while showing their support for the hometown lean-beef manufacturer, BPI.
People for the Truth is comprised of BPI employees who wanted to get the truth about their company and it's products out to the public via Facebook. The three pictured here spearheaded the project and have been on Facebook about 20 hour/day since it launched, answering questions and providing facts about LFTB and BPI. Pictured: Yellow shirt - Tom Cother; Pink Shirt Lindsey Korarna; Blue Shirt Travis Derochie
The BPI employees behind People For The Truth have spent many hours on social media sites combating LFTB lies and answering consumer questions about the product.

Thousands gathered in Sioux City, IA, this weekend to slake their appetite for tasty wholesome hamburgers, while showing their support for local ground beef producer, BPI. Hosted by the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, attendees were both fed and educated on the process, healthfulness and wholesomeness of lean finely textured beef.

It’s a USDA-approved process and product in use for two decades. It utilizes high-technology food processing equipment to separate lean meat from fat. Doing so garners an additional 12 lbs. of lean beef/carcass, and delivers an additional $15/carcass in value. Photos by Loretta Sorensen, a freelance reporter from Yankton, SD.