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The U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered a recall of 143 million pounds of beef Sunday evening [February 17, 2008] from Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., which is the subject of an animal-abuse investigation. The recall affects beef products dating back to Feb. 1, 2006 that came from the company.
The recall was prompted by animal rights activists who worked undercover to obtain the following video (and others):
View Cheap Meat Video
It is clear that numerous animals are sick, soaked in feces and urine, and are sent to the slaughterhouse for introduction into our food supply. The supplier in question was the number two supplier of meat to schools in the nation.
Not only is the treatment shown appalling from the standpoint of safety, it is simply beneath the moral standards of most people I know to treat any animal so despicably.
Notably and MOST IMPORTANTLY - the inspectors were ON SITE and did nothing. The checks and balances for food safety and animal treatment are clearly not appropriate nor working. Clearly, those responsible for the food chain are deserving of serious scrutiny and the food system they manage is in need of a major overhaul.
