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Wegmans Transitioning Away From 'Pink Slime' Beef

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- Add New York-based Wegmans to the list of grocers that will stop selling ground beef that includes the ammonia-treated filler known as "pink slime."

Wegmans Food Markets Chief Executive Danny Wegman says Friday that the store is responding to customer concerns caused by "sensationalism" over the product -- which is more appetizingly called "lean finely textured ground beef."

Rochester-based Wegmans says it's not removing supplies of ground beef from its 79 stores, but will transition as beef without the additive becomes available from the supplier. He says the timeline's being determined.

Federal regulators say "pink slime" meets food safety standards. But recent media attention has led grocers like Kroger, Stop & Shop and Food Lion to drop it.

Wegmans also has stores in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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