Date:
02/18/2008 04:07 AM Government recalls record 143 million pounds of beef
from a Southern California slaughterhouse
By GREG RISLING
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ An undercover video showing
crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts has
led to the largest beef recall in the United States and a
scramble to find out if any of the meat is still destined
for school children's lunches.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Sunday
ordered the recall of 143 million pounds of beef from a Southern
California slaughterhouse that is the subject of an animal-abuse
investigation.
The recall will affect beef products dating
to Feb. 1, 2006, that came from Chino-based Westland/Hallmark
Meat Co., the federal agency said. The company provided meat
to various federal programs.
Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said his
department has evidence that Westland did not routinely contact
its veterinarian when cattle became non-ambulatory after passing
inspection, violating health regulations.
"Because the cattle did not receive complete
and proper inspection, Food Safety and Inspection Service
has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company
is conducting a recall," Schafer said in a statement.
A phone message left for Westland president
Steve Mendell was not returned Sunday.
Agriculture officials said the massive recall
surpasses a 1999 ban of 35 million pounds of ready-to-eat
meats. No illnesses have been linked to the newly recalled
meat, and officials said the health threat was likely small.
Officials estimate that about 37 million pounds
of the recalled beef went to school programs, but they believe
most of the meat probably has already been eaten.
"We don't know how much product is out
there right now. We don't think there is a health hazard,
but we do have to take this action," said Dr. Dick Raymond,
USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety.
Federal officials suspended operations at
Westland/Hallmark after an undercover video from the Humane
Society of the United States surfaced showing crippled and
sick animals being shoved with forklifts.
Two former employees were charged Friday.
Five felony counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanors
were filed against a pen manager. Three misdemeanor counts
— illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal —
were filed against an employee who worked under that manager.
Both were fired.
Authorities said the video showed workers
kicking, shocking and otherwise abusing "downer"
animals that were apparently too sick or injured to walk into
the slaughterhouse. Some animals had water forced down their
throats, San Bernardino County prosecutor Michael Ramos said.
No charges have been filed against Westland,
but an investigation by federal authorities continues.
About 150 school districts around the nation
have stopped using ground beef from Hallmark Meat Packing
Co., which is associated with Westland. Two fast-food chains,
Jack-In-the-Box and In-N-Out, said they would not use beef
from Westland/Hallmark.
Most of the beef was sent to distribution
centers in bulk packages. The USDA said it will work with
distributors to determine how much meat remains.
Federal regulations call for keeping downed
cattle out of the food supply because they may pose a higher
risk of contamination from E. coli, salmonella or mad cow
disease since they typically wallow in feces and their immune
systems are often weak.
Upon learning about the recall, some legislators
criticized the USDA, saying the federal agency should conduct
more thorough inspections to ensure tainted beef doesn't get
to the public.
"Today marks the largest beef recall
in U.S. history, and it involves the national school lunch
program and other federal food and nutrition programs,"
said U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, chairman of the Chairman of the
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. "This
begs the question: How much longer will we continue to test
our luck with weak enforcement of federal food safety regulations?"
Advocacy groups also weighed in, noting the
problems at Westland wouldn't have been revealed had it not
been for animal right activists.
"On the one hand, I'm glad that the recall
is taking place. On the other, it's somewhat disturbing, given
that obviously much of this food has already been eaten,"
said Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at
Consumers Union. "It's really closing the barn door after
the cows left."
———
Associated Press writers Jacob Adelman and
Christopher Weber contributed to this report.
