Animal Abuse in the Food Chain: Largest Beef RECALL

Video Shows Animal Abuse

Animal abuse in the slaughter house has lead to the largest beef recall since 1999. 143 million pounds of frozen beef has been recalled. It is feared that a large portion of the recalled beef that has been in our food chain has been consumed.

Halmark Meat Packing Co. in Chino, Ca., according to the Humane Society of America, principally slaughters "spent" dairy cows for Westland Meat. They are the nation's #2 supplier for the National School Lunch Program.

The beef recall stems from employees who abused "downer" or non ambulatory animals. The term "downer" animal is one who is crippled or sick and cannot hold themselves up steady or walk. The animal abuse was caught on video and turned in. Employees were caught kicking, poking and shoving animals with forklifts.

Halmark Meat Co. did not consistently contact the FSIS public health veterinarian when cows were "down". This is not compliant with the FSIS. Because the abused animals were not inspected, the cattle were determined to be unfit for human food and are being recalled.

The animal abuse by the employees using the forklift have more far reaching implications than the abuse itself. The risk of E.Coli, salmonella or mad cow disease contamination is much greater because of the animal being shoved across the hard surfaces where the hide and possibly meat can come into contact with these various diseases. When the animal is then processed and mixed with the other beef, it is very hard to tell which package of beef is contaminated. That is why such a large amount (143 million pounds) of beef is being recalled.

So far two former employees were charged Friday. 5 felony counts of cruelty and 3 misdemeanors were filed against a pen manager and 3 misdemeanor counts-illegal movement of downed animals-were filed against the second employee. No charges have been filed against Westland have taken place. But further investigation is underway.

No illnesses have been reported from the recalled beef yet. It is considered a class 2 which means that there is a remote possibility that the product could harm health.