McDonald's 'pink slime' additive to no longer be used in McNuggets and hamburgers, company says

McDonald's announced it will no longer use a food additive some call "pink slime" in its burgers or McNuggets.

The filler is made from spare beef trimmings that are treated with ammonium hydroxide to kill any bacteria.

The material has come under fire in newspapers and in a major documentary -- and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver campaigned hard against it on his T-V show.

McDonald's says its decision was not based on any particular event.

The U-S Department of Agriculture says the use of ammoniated beef trimmings is safe.

Two other major fast food chains have also reportedly stopped using it.