USDA Investigation Leads to Recall of 143 Million Pounds of Beef

Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. of Chino, Calif., has recalled 143 million pounds of beef as a result of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s investigation into allegations that the company abused nonambulatory cattle.

In the course of the investigation, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service has found evidence that Hallmark/Westland did not contact the FSIS public health veterinarian consistently when cattle became nonambulatory after passing inspection. Federal regulations prohibit nonambulatory cattle from entering the human food supply as an additional safeguard against bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said multiple safeguards against BSE mean that these cattle were “extremely unlikely” to be at risk for the disease, but the recall is necessary because Hallmark/Westland procedures violated federal regulations.

The recall affects beef products that Hallmark/Westland produced between Feb. 1, 2006, and Feb. 2, 2008—after which FSIS suspended inspections at the company, thus halting all operations. The recall falls under the class II classification because of the remote probability that the beef could cause adverse health effects. Products subject to the recall went to wholesale distributors in bulk packages and are not available for direct purchase by consumers. Products bear the establishment number EST. 336 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The USDA investigation of Hallmark/Westland began after the Humane Society of the United States released footage to back allegations that workers abused nonambulatory cattle in attempts to force the animals to stand long enough to pass inspection. The HSUS alleged that abuse included prodding nonambulatory animals with electric cattle prods, spraying them with high-intensity water hoses, and rolling them with forklifts.

In response, the AVMA encouraged FSIS to investigate the matter thoroughly and enforce federal standards. The American Association of Bovine Practitioners also issued a statement condemning abusive practices at the slaughterhouse.

In another development, the San Bernardino County district attorney recently filed felony animal-cruelty charges against two employees whom Hallmark/Westland had terminated.

Reprinted from AVMA News Bulletin, February 19, 2008