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USDA
has suspended Westland Meat Co. of Chino, Calif., as a supplier
to the agency's National School Lunch Program after the
Humane Society of the United States posted on its Web site
a video chronicling abuse of cattle at a supplier's slaughterhouse.
An HSUS member working undercover at Hallmark Meat Packing
Co., also a Chino, Calif.-based company that is related
to and supplies Westland, captured the footage, HSUS says.
"I am deeply concerned about the allegations made regarding
inhumane handling … in a federally inspected slaughter establishment,"
said Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer in a statement. "I
have called on the Office of the Inspector General … to
conduct an investigation into this matter."
The video shows workers prodding downer cattle — apparently
with electric prods — spraying high-intensity water through
their noses and ramming them with the blades of a forklift.
The workers reportedly were trying to get the cattle on
their feet before a USDA inspector arrived for daily inspection.
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service generally prohibits
such abuse as well as the use of downer cattle, or non-ambulatory
cattle, which pose a higher risk of carrying bovine spongiform
encephalopathy and other diseases, and their tissue in human
food.
Put on hold
Westland has been suspended indefinitely pending USDA's
investigation, which means it cannot produce nor deliver
products currently under contract. The company also cannot
sign further contracts. The agency has put on hold all products
in or destined for federal food and nutrition programs,
Schafer said.
Steve Mendell, president and CEO of Westland Meat Co., the
second-largest supplier of meat to the National School Lunch
Program, said in a statement that two workers violated the
company's animal welfare standards and have been fired.
Their supervisor has been suspended pending his explanation,
he said.
"We are shocked, saddened and sickened by what we have seen
today," Mendell said. "Operations have been immediately
suspended until we can meet with all of our employees and
be assured these sorts of activities never again happen
at our facility."
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