Westland/hallmark Meat Company---Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company was a California-based meat packaging company. It was forced into bankruptcy due to costs from a meat recall and ensuing litigation.
On February 17, 2008, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company voluntarily recalled just over 143 million pounds (65 million kilograms) of raw and frozen beef products, considered the largest meat recall in the United States, following an investigation into animal cruelty.
The recall came in the wake of animal cruelty and violations of the law at a California slaughtering plant, by an investigation conducted by The Humane Society of the United States. An investigator for The HSUS videotaped workers abusing downed animals unable to walk into the kill pens on their own.
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) had determined that beef products produced by the Chino, California, company were unfit for human consumption as the cattle had not received "complete and proper inspection."
The recall was designated as Class II, which the USDA describes as "a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product."
On Friday, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer indicated that charges had been laid against employees of the plant alleged to have taken part in the mistreatment of cattle. "Today [Friday], the San Bernardino District Attorney filed felony animal cruelty charges against two employees who were terminated by Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company," said Schafer. "It is regrettable that these animals were mistreated and I am encouraged and supportive of these actions by the San Bernardino District Attorney in response to this mistreatment."
The USDA learned of the possible inhumane handling of non-ambulatory (disabled) cattle at the packing plant on January 30 and has since suspended activities at the plant. "We continue to conduct a thorough investigation into whether any violations of food safety or additional humane handling regulations have occurred," said Secretary Schafer in a press release.
"On February 8, our Office of the Inspector General took the lead on the investigation. At that time, USDA extended the administrative hold on Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company products for the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations while the investigation continues," said Schafer.
Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallmark/Westland_Meat_Packing_Company
On February 17, 2008, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company voluntarily recalled just over 143 million pounds (65 million kilograms) of raw and frozen beef products, considered the largest meat recall in the United States, following an investigation into animal cruelty.
The recall came in the wake of animal cruelty and violations of the law at a California slaughtering plant, by an investigation conducted by The Humane Society of the United States. An investigator for The HSUS videotaped workers abusing downed animals unable to walk into the kill pens on their own.
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) had determined that beef products produced by the Chino, California, company were unfit for human consumption as the cattle had not received "complete and proper inspection."
The recall was designated as Class II, which the USDA describes as "a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product."
On Friday, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer indicated that charges had been laid against employees of the plant alleged to have taken part in the mistreatment of cattle. "Today [Friday], the San Bernardino District Attorney filed felony animal cruelty charges against two employees who were terminated by Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company," said Schafer. "It is regrettable that these animals were mistreated and I am encouraged and supportive of these actions by the San Bernardino District Attorney in response to this mistreatment."
The USDA learned of the possible inhumane handling of non-ambulatory (disabled) cattle at the packing plant on January 30 and has since suspended activities at the plant. "We continue to conduct a thorough investigation into whether any violations of food safety or additional humane handling regulations have occurred," said Secretary Schafer in a press release.
"On February 8, our Office of the Inspector General took the lead on the investigation. At that time, USDA extended the administrative hold on Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company products for the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations while the investigation continues," said Schafer.
Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallmark/Westland_Meat_Packing_Company
