News Update

News Update
Feb. 19, 2008

USDA Issues Largest Meat Recall in History

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Feb. 17 a massive recall of 143 million pounds (lb.) of beef harvested during a two-year period at a Chino, Calif., processing facility.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) ordered the recall — the largest of its kind in U.S. history — after evidence emerged that Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. did not consistently contact the FSIS public health veterinarian in situations involving non-ambulatory cattle. Although USDA says the beef presents a negligible risk to human health, FSIS has determined the harvested downer animals were unfit for human food because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection.

The recall stems from allegations that first surfaced Jan. 30, after The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) released an undercover video showing Hallmark/Westland employees allegedly ramming downer animals with forklifts, shooting high-pressure water up their noses and using electrical prods to motivate the animals to stand — all actions in clear violation of government standards and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. According to an interview in The Washington Post, the unnamed undercover investigator who shot the video said the practices occurred prior to a USDA inspector visiting the facility, “with the goal of getting the animals on their feet for the short time the inspector was there.”

USDA protocol states that once an ambulatory animal has passed antemortem inspection, then becomes non-ambulatory, such an animal must be re-examined by the public health veterinarian to determine whether the animal should be harvested — a step Hallmark/Westland employees ignored. According to USDA, if the veterinarian finds the animal had sustained an acute injury — such as a fracture — then it would be eligible for processing. If the downer was found to have a chronic condition, the animal would be condemned and prohibited to enter the food supply since it presents an increased risk of harboring diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

Following HSUS’ video release, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer called on the Office of the Inspector General, FSIS and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Jan. 30 to conduct an investigation into the matter. The USDA placed an administrative hold on Hallmark/Westland meat products headed for federal food and nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Food Distribution Program on Indian reservations. On Feb. 1, the company voluntarily stopped operations, and on Feb. 4, FSIS suspended all products from the packing company.

Two employees in the video, who were fired by Hallmark/Westland, now face felony animal cruelty charges filed by the San Bernardino District Attorney Feb. 15. According to The Associated Press (AP), a former pen manager faces five felony counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanors; another employee faces three misdemeanor counts.

The products destined for the federal food assistance programs will now be removed from schools and other holding facilities and destroyed, according to USDA. All Hallmark/Westland products delivered since Feb. 1, 2006 — most of which were sent to distribution centers in bulk packages — are included in the recall.

Dick Raymond, undersecretary of agriculture for food safety, told cnn.com that most of the recalled meat has probably already been eaten. Any remaining meat, however, must be destroyed and cannot be used or reconditioned for human consumption, USDA stated.

USDA officials said the agency will pursue every avenue to reimburse states for the value of products in the federal food and nutrition programs that must be destroyed due to the recall.

AP reported that recalled meat has accumulated in several schools, including at least seven Michigan school districts; the Grand Rapids public schools must now throw out 10 tons of hamburger.

The recall has also spurred action by lawmakers. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), told AP she’s concerned the video and resulting recall “demonstrate just how far our food safety system has collapsed.”

FSIS currently has 7,800 inspection personnel who provide inspection to more than 6,200 federally inspected establishments, 900 of which are livestock harvesting facilities. USDA Assistant Administrator Kenneth Petersen said today the agency would begin implementing extra checks at those facilities, according to USA Today.

Meanwhile, Secretary Schafer has expressed his dismay regarding the inhumane handling of cattle. “It is extremely unlikely that these animals were at risk for BSE because of the multiple safeguards; however, this action is necessary because plant procedures violated USDA regulations,” he said.

James Reagan, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA’s) chairman of the Beef Industry Food Safety Council, said while the USDA-issued recall is out of an abundance of caution, the organization supports USDA’s recall as a precautionary measure. Reagan said the ban on non-ambulatory cattle is just one of many steps taken to produce safe beef.

“As an organization representing beef producers, we have two expectations when cattle leave our farms and ranches: that our animals are treated humanely and that every step is taken to produce safe beef,” he said.

Steve Mendell, Hallmark/Westland president, released a statement Feb. 3 noting the company’s disciplinary actions taken regarding the two identified employees as well as aggressive measures to ensure all employees follow the company’s humane handling policies and procedures.

“We are also cooperating with the USDA investigators on the allegations of inhumane handling treatment, which is a serious breech of our company’s policies and training,” Mendell said. “We are dedicating our full efforts and resources to fully cooperate with the USDA investigative team that has been assigned to our plant.”

This latest recall dwarfs more recent meat recalls by comparison. The Hallmark/Westland recall is more than six times the amount of beef recalled by Topps Meat Co. last September (21.7 million lb.).

At press time, the Office of the Inspector General and FSIS were continuing the investigation. Further details about the recall and USDA actions are available at www.usda.gov/actions.

— by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.

Ag Department Expresses Disappointment Regarding Senate’s Farm Bill Proposal

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer and Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner released a statement today calling the Senate’s farm bill proposal “a step away from passing a farm bill.”

“The Senate’s most recent farm bill proposal recommends increases in taxes and significantly grows the size and scope of government while failing to implement much needed reform in our current farm bill programs,” Schafer and Conner stated. “We are disappointed that the Senate has not joined the House in proposing a package that seeks fiscal discipline and real reform while providing a true safety net.”

Although the President has stated he will not support a bill that raises taxes and uses taxpayer dollars, Schafer and Conner argue that this is what the Senate proposal does.

“We believe that, working together, the House, Senate and the Administration can move forward with a true reform-minded farm bill that remains at around $6 billion over baseline. The Senate offer looks to increase spending by at least $16.5 billion.”

Schafer and Conner said they will continue to encourage the House and Senate to work together to quickly agree on a farm bill that the President can sign.

Pasture and Livestock Management Workshops for the Novice Set March and April

Two upcoming three-day workshops set at Overton, Texas, will address the needs of novice ranchers, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle expert.

The “2008 Pasture and Livestock Management Workshop for the Novice” will be March 25-27, then again April 1-3. The course is designed for those just starting in the cattle business or those considering starting, said Jason Cleere, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist. “From introductory soils to fertilization strategies to stocking rate assessments to supplementation to vaccinating cattle, the workshop will cover most of the basics of forage and beef cattle production,” Cleere said.

Scheduled to take place at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, attendance is limited to 50 people for each workshop. The focus of the program is how to get started in ranching and pasture management based on research-tested, practical information. Approximately half of each three-day course is spent in the field with how-to demonstrations of essential skills such as planting, calibrating sprayers, soil testing, castrating, dehorning, and vaccination of calves, stocking strategies, pasture management and many other topics.

AgriLife research scientists will also give tours of the various forage and grazing sites at the center and show how theory is carried to actual practice, Cleere noted.

Registration is $350 per person and includes two evening meals, including a ribeye steak dinner, two lunches, break refreshments, a binder of educational materials and social functions. To register, send a check or money order to: Texas AgriLife Research, P.O. Box 200, Overton, TX 75684. More information can be found at http://overton.tamu.edu/grazingschool.htm or by contacting Jennifer Lloyd at 903-834-6191 or jllloyd@ag.tamu.edu .

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.