supermarket
Health Department
"WHERE’S THE BEEF," INDEED: LARGEST-EVER RECALL OF MEAT FROM U.S. SLAUGHTERHOUSE
February 18, 2008
On Sunday, February 17, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered a recall of 143 million pounds of frozen beef from the Westland/Hallmark Meat Company, a slaughterhouse in Chino, (San Bernardino County) Southern California.
The staggering amount shatters the recall record set in the U.S.A. in 1999 of 35 million pounds of ready-to-eat meats, according to Agriculture Undersecretary Richard Raymond.
The recall was a precautionary measure taken after a meat production film was taken in stealth then leaked by undercover animal rights activists. The film, portraying shocking cruelty to animals, depicted obviously sickened, crippled cows, referred to in the industry as "downer" cattle, dubiously passing inspection. Some of the cows, too weak to walk on their own, were shown being forcibly shoved through production lines with forklifts, dragged by chains, and given the sensation of drowning by having water hoses shoved down their throats.
U.S.D.A. guidelines prohibit the use of "downer" cattle for consumption, as when cows are lame, there exists a chance that such animals might be tainted with "mad cow" disease, e coli bacteria or any number of foodborne illnesses. Because to date no illnesses have been attributed to Westland/Hallmark’s product, the company stands to be cited for violation of inspection rules rather than proof of contamination.
Much of the beef, and a small amount of pork from the same slaughterhouse may have already been consumed, as it was quickly shipped nationwide, designated for public school lunches and other Federal programs.
Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin, along with four senior Democrats in Congress, told the General Accounting Office last week to investigate the safety of meat in the school lunch program in light of the recall.
Jack in the Box, a San Diego-based company with restaurants in 18 states, buys meat from Westland/Hallmark and has told its meat suppliers not to use their product until clearance is given. McDonald’s, Burger King and most other popular fast-food chains buy their beef from suppliers other than Westland/Hallmark.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin said in a statement that USDA must toughen its inspection measures before animals are slaughtered to prevent future occurrences.
No official statements have emerged from P.E.T.A. or other animal-rights groups on the animal cruelty issue.
The USDA has published a Q&A which explains why the recall took as long as it did.
By Lisa Carvin, Freelance Reporter