The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given the OK for some companies to begin listing “pink slime”/”lean finely textured beef”/”ammonia-treated beef” on packaging labels. A spokesperson for the USDA, Dirk Fillpot, wouldn’t name the companies that would be listing the filler. But Fillpot told MSNBC that some companies had voluntarily approached the Department asking to list LFTB on their labels. He wouldn’t say if the USDA was discussing whether to make it a requirement.

Cargill admitted that it was one of the companies that made the request, but says no final decision has been made. Surely, they’re weighing the pros and cons. Pro: the company will score points for taking it upon themselves to be honest with customers. Con: the company sells pink slime for dinner.

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A few interesting new accounts to report this morning.

About a month ago, Cargill began its search for a firm to work on CSR and food security issues. At the time, corporate VP Mike Fernandez told The Holmes Report that a “handful” of firms had been invited to participate in the search. He also said it would be “very hard” to find a firm with the necessary global scope.

The company has chosen Weber Shandwick for the work after a competitive search. According to Holmes, Edelman and Ketchum had also been in the running.

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PRWeek held its annual awards gala in New York last night. Among the winners: Ketchum West and Mattel/Barbie for Campaign of the Year; Zeno Group for Agency of the Year; and Euro RSCG Worldwide PR‘s Marian Salzman for PR Professional of the Year.

In its Agency of the Year write-up, PRWeek says Zeno Group had 16 percent revenue growth for the year ending September 30, 2010, clients including Tropicana and Sears, programs to show appreciation for its staff, and a dozen new hires, including CEO Barby Siegel from Edelman.

There were 80 judges for this year’s awards. Cargill corporate VP of corporate affairs Mike Fernandez served as the chair. Congrats to all the winners! Complete list here.