Nation & World

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Do you have a news tip? newstips@heraldnet.com | 425.339.3400   Published: Monday, February 18, 2008 Beef recall largest ever in U.S. Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Sunday what they said was the recall of beef in the U.S., 143 million pounds of raw and frozen beef from a troubled Chino meat-packing company, deeming it unfit for human consumption because of lapses in required inspections. The USDA said there was "a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product," but that the meat most likely had already been consumed. The cattle "did not receive complete and proper inspection," according to a news release issued by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service in Washington. Information received by the federal agency shows that Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. "did not consistently contact the FSIS public health veterinarian" as required when cattle became nonambulatory after being inspected, the release said. Department spokesman Keith Williams noted that Sunday's beef recall, while the largest in history, was not based on the same levels of concern for public health as in some prior recalls. "There is a remote probability of any serious health concern ... but we are taking this action because of our regulations" and in abundance of caution, he said of the recall. Problems at the plant, about 35 miles east of Los Angeles, first went public following the release of a video showing treatment of animals at the plant between Oct. 11 and Nov. 9. The video, taken by the Humane Society of the United States, led to schools nationwide pulling beef suppled by the company from cafeterias. In the video, a manager is shown using a paddle to hit a downed cow in the face and eye, in an attempt, authorities said, to get the animal to its feet to be taken to slaughter. By law, cattle that cannot walk are banned from the human meat supply. It was not immediately clear where the meat products are, but the USDA said that some Westland meat products were purchased for federal food and nutrition programs. The agency placed a hold on all Westland products in federal outlets, including the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Food Assistance Program on Indian Reservations, USDA officials said Sunday. The USDA recall list issued Sunday includes beef products with the Westland, King Meat Co., Regal and Hallmark Meat Packing Labels. What's the beef? 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 because they typically wallow in feces and their immune systems are often weak. Associated Press

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