USDA BEEF MEAT RECALL DUE TO SLAUGHTERHOUSE VIDEO OF WESTLAND HALLMARK MEAT COMPANY

An undercover investigation by The Humane Society of a cattle slaughterhouse in Chino, California has led to the largest beef recall in U.S. history.

The disturbing undercover video shows workers at Hallmark/Westland using forklifts to move cows that were crippled and too sick to walk to the slaughterhouse.  The federal government has banned cows that can’t walk (called "downer cows") for use in the food supply because they pose an added risk of disease including mad cow disease.

The US Department of Agriculture ordered a massive recall of 143 million pounds of beef from the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. this weekend. Specific package labels for the various recalled items -- which include both raw and processed meat and beef parts since Feb. 1, 2006 -- can be viewed at the USDA web site.

The tainted meat was mainly used in school cafeterias, federal nutrition programs and fast food restaurants.  [SOURCE]