The U.S. government on Sunday recalled 143.3 million pounds of beef that dated to cattle slaughtered two years ago at Hallmark/ Westland Meat packing.
The government has classified the recall as Class II, meaning there is little likelihood of illness to the 150 (unnamed) school districts and food assistance programs that already consumed the botched meat.
"We don't know exactly where all the product went," said Ken Peterson, USDA's assistant administrator, for the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service in a conference call.
The proof behind the recall was discovered by a non-governmental organization, the U.S. Humane Society, who sent a society member undercover at Hallmark/ Westland to videotape the meatpacker improperly slaughtering what are called "downer" cattle or those unable to walk to slaughter.
The school districts and fast food chains are banning Hallmark/Westland Meat after the government suspended operations at the slaughterhouse and as a result several employees have been fired and charged with misdemeanor and felony counts of animal cruelty and illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal.
Hopefully, the huge recall will put the safety of the U.S. beef supply front and center in Congress. The USDA is required by law to regulate and report, but how much longer can U.S. citizens test their luck with weak enforcement of federal food safety regulations?
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