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WASHINGTON
— Congressmen repeatedly questioned a representative of
the Humane Society of the United States on Tuesday about
why the group did not immediately inform USDA of video evidence
workers were abusing downed cattle at Hallmark/Westland
Meat Packing Co.
At a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on food
safety, Michael Greger, HSUS director of public health and
animal agriculture, said the San Bernardino District Attorney's
office asked the group to hold the information until it
completed its own investigation. The congressmen, however,
said HSUS could have discretely gone to USDA earlier than
it did.
Greger hinted at more HSUS exposes, telling the committee
the videographer's identity must be guarded so as not to
compromise current and future investigations. The Hallmark/Westland
video, which was shown at the hearing, resulted in the nation's
largest beef recall. (See Hallmark/Westland
recalls 143 million lbs of beef — largest in history on
Meatingplace.com , Feb. 18, 2008.)
Hallmark/Westland President Steve Mendell did not attend
the hearing, declining the committee's request for him to
testify. Committee members said they are looking at compelling
him to come before the committee sometime in the future.
Greger told the committee that Hallmark workers said in
criminal testimony in California that they were pressured
by supervisors to get the cows up and into slaughter. Hallmark
slaughtered mostly spent dairy cattle, often fatigued after
being trucked in from surrounding states.
Members of the committee, which is chaired by Rep. John
Dingell (D-Mich.), used the hearing as an opportunity to
renew calls for: banning all meat from downer cattle from
the food supply, mandatory traceability standards, mandatory
recall authority for USDA and the Food and Drug Administration
and the creation of a single food safety agency.
William Marler, a Seattle lawyer who represents victims
of foodborne illnesses, however, suggested USDA might have
actually gone too far with the Hallmark recall.
"Although stunned by the video … am more stunned that the
recall has ballooned to 143 million pounds of meat and is
quickly encompassing products that might contain trace amounts
of the meat. No people have been sickened. I wonder if resources
are better spent elsewhere," he testified before the committee.
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