 Following the suspension of operations at three out of four BPI plants , members of the media and leaders were invited by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to tour the BPI facility that remained open in South Sioux City , Nebraska . The founders of BPI gave campaign contributions to Branstad in 2010 , and to other candidates ' campaigns . Branstad stated to ABC News that the contributions were not a factor in his decision regarding having the event . Texas Governor Rick Perry , Nebraska Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy , Kansas Governor Sam Brownback , and South Dakota Lieutenant Governor Matt Michels , toured the South Sioux City , Nebraska , plant in an attempt to allay " inaccurate information " that they stated as having caused " an unnecessary panic among consumers " . The publicity tour emerged with the promotional slogan , " Dude , it 's beef ! " News reporters were not allowed to ask employees at BPI any questions during the tour . BPI asserts that social media and ABC News " grossly misrepresented " their product . BPI eventually sued ABC News for defamation . On March 28 , 2012 , Branstad stated , " The problem is , we take this off the market , then we end up with a fatter product that 's going to cost more and it 's going to increase the obesity problem in this country " . Safeway and other retailers that have removed the product from their shelves or product lines have stated they will not raise the price of their beef . Branstad also stated that he would recommend that Iowa state public schools continue to use ground beef which contains the product , and stated plans to " send a letter to the state 's public schools , encouraging them to continue to buy LFTB " . 
