Downer Cows Being Used in Food Supply - Puts Our Kids' Health at Risk

This story makes me sick because I'm an animal lover and can't stand seeing them mistreated. I'm also a mother with a child in one of the schools that has received meat from these tortured animals.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has ordered the closing of the Hallmark Meat Packing Co. plant in Chino, California, where animal rights activists said they videotaped "downer" cows being prepared for slaughter.

Cows that cannot stand up are banned from the food supply because it is a primary characteristic of an animal with Mad Cow disease. The Humane Society of the U.S. says it obtained video evidence that workers at the plant repeatedly attempted to force "downed" animals onto their feet and into the human food chain.

The plant has been closed voluntarily since the video first surfaced and USDA launched an investigation. Raymond said suspension is a regulatory course of action available when FSIS finds egregious violations of humane handling regulations. He said the suspension will remain in effect and the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company will not be allowed to operate until written corrective actions are submitted and verified by FSIS to ensure that animals are humanely handled.

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.

California based Westland Meat Co. supplies the National School Lunch Program along with other federal-aid programs. The company has delivered ground beef and other products to schools in 36 states.

A list of 120 Minnesota school districts received possibly unsafe beef. My son attends one of these schools. One district put 44 cases of pre-cooked frozen hanbuger patties on hold following the announcement on Feb. 4th that it received potentially tainted meat.

Jack in the Box, a San Diego-based company with restaurants in 18 states, told its meat suppliers not to use Hallmark until further notice, but it was unclear whether it had used any Hallmark meat. In-N-Out, an Irvine-based chain, also halted use of the Westland/Hallmark beef. Other chains such as McDonald's and Burger King said they do not buy beef from Westland.

From Minnesota Dept of Education:
Of the schools and organizations that received Westland beef, we identified 120 that currently have unused product. We have contacted those schools and organizations and instructed them on how to isolate the product.
• The majority of the Westland beef that was sent to Minnesota was likely served to students before the USDA issued its advisory. Based on the information that has been gathered by the Minnesota Department of Education, approximately 60,000 pounds of the initial 240,000 pounds of Westland raw beef sent to Minnesota has not been used and has been isolated.
• The Department of Education has also been able to identify approximately 15,500 pounds of Westland beef that was delivered to Minnesota schools as processed products, including beef crumbles and hamburger patties. That identified product has also been isolated. more

The Humane Society of the United States released a video Jan. 30th that shows cattle too sick to walk being tortured until they stand to pass U.S. Dept of agriculture inspections at Westland Meat Company/Hallmark Meat Packing. The Humane Society claimed these "downed" animals put the food supply at risk for schools across the nation.

"Downed animals may have a higher risk of being infected with (Mad Cow Disease), E.Coli and Salmonella." the HSUS said in a newsletter.

What are Downer Cows? Here

Humane Society of the United States video of these "downer" cows being tortured, here. HSUS investigation here.

Full Story, updated Feb. 16 here. Please read.

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