posted February 17, 2008 07:56 PM         

Since the national exposure they are paying dearly due it being brought to the attention of the USDA.

This was in my breaking news this evening:

USDA Makes Nation's Largest Beef Recall
143M Pounds Of Beef Recalled

POSTED: 4:35 pm EST February 17, 2008
UPDATED: 4:37 pm EST February 17, 2008
http://www.clickondetroit.com/health/15326653/detail.html?treets=det&tml=det_natlbreak&ts=T&tmi=det_natlbreak_1_04340202172008

LOS ANGELES -- The government is issuing a huge beef recall.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is calling back 143 million pounds of frozen beef from a Southern California slaughterhouse that's being investigated for mistreating cattle.

The action tops a 1999 ban of 35 million pounds of ready-to-eat meats.

USDA says the recall will affect beef products dating to Feb. 1, 2006, that came from Westland/Hallmark Meat Company, based in Chino, Calif. The company supplies meat to the federal school lunch program and to some major fast-food chains.

Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after an undercover video surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts.

Two former employees have been charged with animal cruelty. No charges have been filed against Westland, but an investigation by federal authorities continues.

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.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

posted February 18, 2008 05:03 PM         

Yesterday, the USDA issued the largest recall of beef in U.S. history, the latest action in response to The Humane Society of the United States’ groundbreaking undercover investigation of a dairy cow slaughter plant in Southern California.

The recall of 143 million pounds of beef came two days after San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos filed criminal charges against slaughter plant workers caught on video torturing crippled cattle, and two weeks after USDA shut down that slaughter plant.

Your actions have made a difference. Thank you!

The recall and cruelty charges show that the public will not stand for such abuses of farm animals, nor for the health risks that come with using "downed" cows for food. But the outrage has not yet prompted a change in federal policies related to the inhumane handling of downer cows and other farm animals.

So today, please take the next step and ask your legislators to co-sponsor the Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act, which would ban any slaughtering of downed animals for human consumption.

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/2007_downed_animals3/wi33nw7417jim8dn?

After you’ve taken action, read a personal note from our undercover investigator in this case, then donate to our Investigations Fund to bring other cruelties to light.

The response to our investigation has been felt across the nation -- and millions of people have now witnessed the animal abuse that our undercover investigator so bravely documented. While the exposure is important, the long term goal is for the federal government to step up and meet its responsibility to ensure both food safety and animal welfare. A recall of this staggering scale proves that it's past time for Congress and the USDA to strengthen our laws for the sake of people and animals.

Thank you for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States