Consumer Affair
Recall of 143 M pounds of beef questioned
By Ben Wasserman
Feb 21, 2008 - 12:18:52 PM

THURSDAY FEB 21, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) – A recall of 143 million beef from a company that processes sick cows into meat may not pacify consumer advocates who seem to have more than the 143 million pounds of beef to worry about.  Reuters today cited officials at the Department of Agriculture as saying that the agency "is reviewing why a California plant processed unfit cattle and that it was too early to determine whether it was an incident specific to the facility."

"We are reviewing our procedures, how we work with the plant, how our inspectors work, our staffing needs," Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer was quoted as telling reporters at the USDA's annual Outlook Forum. "And until we find out, we can't assess other plants, and we can't say ... this is an isolated incident or an ongoing practice."

The incident as evidenced in a video secretly taped at the California plant of Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. not only has angered animal rights advocates, but largely concerned health concerned consumers.  Cattle coming down on the way to slaughterhouse are not supposed to be processed into meat for human consumption.  At least one cow was seen walking into the slaughter box.

The recall is more of a thunder than rain, critics said.  Yesterday, the Center for Science in the Public Interest issued a statement complaining that the USDA did not list the retailers who re-packed the risky beef and sold it to consumers who as a result likely had no clue whether or not the meat they purchased and ate from their local stores are on the recall list.  The USDA agreed that probably all the concerning beef has been used with at least 37 million pounds by school children.

Consumer groups complained that the government agency acted too slow and too late.  Officials announced the recall many days after the video revealed that there is some worrisome practice at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. plant based out of Chino, California.  Why does the government have to wait for consumers to use up the product and then ask the company to voluntarily recall the meat?

Lawmakers also questioned the usefulness of food safety system and the department's ability to address recall problems of the type reported.  Rep. Rosa Delauro, Chair of the house Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, according to Reuters, has sent a letter to Schafer asking the agency to issue an emergency rule listing the retailers and school districts that received the meat produced by Hallmark/Westland.

"No clear information has been made available on the products involved and this has resulted in consumer confusion about whether they, or their local school district, purchased products subject to the recall," DeLauro was quoted by Reuter, which cited Delauro as chiding the USDA for protecting the industry at the expense of the public's health.

Schafer was cited as saying there is no point in accelerating the process although the agency claimed retailers related to recalls start being listed later this year.