'Pink slime' producer's political donations detailed

The main producer of the lean beef trimmings that critics call "pink slime" has donated more than $800,000 to state and federal political candidates over the past decade.

On Sunday, the Des Moines Register detailed the donations that Beef Products Inc. has made.

The company's product made from beef trimmings is under scrutiny because of public concerns about the ammonium hydroxide it uses to treat the meat, which the company says kills bacteria.

Executives and employees at BPI have given at least $546,500 to candidates for state office in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas. And the company's owners Eldon and Regina Roth have given $274,250 to congressional and presidential candidates since 2008.

Nearly all of that $820,750 - except for $28,400 - went to Republicans.