 In the United States , the additive is not for direct consumer sale . Lean finely textured beef can constitute up to 15 percent of ground beef without additional labeling , and it can be added to other meat products such as beef @-@ based processed meats . Prior to the invention of the disinfection process , beef scraps could not be processed to reduce or remove the fat , bone fragments or other non @-@ beef components and could be sold for other uses only , such as pet food or as an ingredient for cooking oil . 
