USDA officials extended a ban on use of meat from a Chino slaughterhouse shut down last week for mistreating cattle. It also said the Westland plant had been cited in 2005 for using electric prods on animals. This was the same year that Westland Meat Company was awarded “The Supplier of the Year for 2004-2005 for the National School Lunch Program.”
Shocking?
According to AP reports, USDA officials insisted Friday that investigations have found no evidence that meat from disabled animals has entered the food supply despite video to the contrary. Humane Society President and Chief Executive Wayne Pacelle disputed that claim by USDA.
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"There’s no ambiguity in our mind that this plant was accepting downers, abusing downers and slaughtering downers."
Why is this all important? Federal regulations call for keeping downer cows out of the food supply because they pose a higher risk of E. coli, salmonella contamination, or mad cow disease since they typically wallow in feces and their immune systems are often weak. Yummy!