‘Inhumane’ Slaughterhouse Supplier’s Meat Is Cut from Malibu Public School Menus

• No Beef until Investigation Is Over

BY NICOLE KLIEST

The Humane Society of the US released shocking video evidence last Thursday documenting abusive treatment of cows on their way to slaughter at a Chino-based meat supplier that has affected menus for lunch programs in Malibu schools.
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has opted to follow the Department of Education’s, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s request to place a hold on all processed beef products.
President and CEO of the HSUS Wayne Pacelle sent a letter to state school officials Jan. 31 in states, including California, that receive beef from the company being accused of inhumane treatment of animals, Westland Meat Company, for the national school lunch program.
“We urge state officials to follow the examples already set by Minnesota, Oregon, and Utah to order state school districts to stop using beef delivered from this company,” Pacelle wrote.
Orlando Griego, director of food and nutrition services for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District says that school districts throughout Calif. are being affected.
“Last Thursday we were instructed by the Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to place a hold on processed beef products, therefore we have removed it from the menu entirely,” Griego said.
Although the school district is uncertain when beef will return to the menu, officials say they are being proactive.
“The information is hard to come by, but we know a thorough investigation of all processors is underway. In the meantime, we are making menu substitutions and are encouraging students to go to the salad bars,” Griego added.
The USDA has suspended Westland as a supplier to the National School Lunch Program and other federal nutrition programs in response to the HSUS investigation of the plant. The agency is also conducting an investigation.
The released videotape findings at the Hallmark Meat Packing Company in Chino, which supplies Westland Meat, documents inhumane treatment of dairy cows that are too sick or injured to walk.
Such downer cows are at a greater risk of being infected with mad cow disease, E. coli, salmonella, and other harmful foodborne pathogens that can seriously endanger human health.
The meatpacking company’s president released a statement indicating a voluntary suspension of operations pending the completion of the USDA investigation.
The Humane Society of the US has urged schools in 36 states to stop using Westland Meat. More than 100,000 schools and child-care facilities nationwide receive meat through the lunch program.