How The Largest Beef Recall In US History Came About
 Tuesday, February 19th, 2008

The largest beef recall in United States history was first revealed on Sunday, when the US Department of Agriculture announced that Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company recalled around 143 million pounds of beef - including beef produced by the California company since all the way back in February 2006, that could be sitting in your freezer.

The recall was initiated after The Humane Society of the United States revealed the results of their inside investigation into the Hallmark Westland meat company:  animals who appeared sick, injured, and unable to walk were pushed and prodded into slaughter anyhow by heavy machinery like forklifts, a blatant violation of U.S. law.

"The meat industry tries to squeeze as many profits out of these animals as possible," said Wayne Pacelle, with The Humane Society of the United States.  "Even animals to sick or injured to walk are animals they want to turn a profit on."

"We think this recall is important and we think it's important for parents to know that the schools are taking action to put those products on hold," said Kenneth Petersen, assistant administrator for field operations for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA.

None of this - this entire 143 million pound recall - would likely have taken place had it not been for the tireless work and efforts of the Humane Society.  Here is the video from the HSUS that brought the USDA to action.  Though it's labeled as graphic, we've watched it, and there is no blood, guts, or gore; just some very sick and sad cows being pushed into line with the healthy ones:

It doesn't need to be graphic or gory, though, to be wrong.  And if I lived anywhere near California, I'd be tempted to go to that California farm and smack those employees with a stick right back.  There is just no excuse for bulldozing a cow covered in feces into your child's cafeteria.  This is where corporate greed gets us.


Add your name to the petition to Secretary of Agriculture Edward Schafer, urging him to expand the level of supervision at slaughter farms in the U.S., by going here (or, you can change it to your own custom message).  You will also be e-mailed by the HSUS with any further updates, so you'll be the first to know!

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