Largest Beef Recall in U.S. History Affects
Malibu Schools
• Local Menus Will Reflect State
Directives during Inhumane Animal Treatment Review
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
announced on Sunday the recall of 143 million pounds
of beef, the nation’s largest recall to date, from
Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company, a former meat
supplier for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School
District and other districts throughout California in the
National School Lunch Program.
“We have received
additional guidance from the state not to use the meat,
however we are still awaiting guidance with what we are to
do with the beef we have isolated,” said Orlando Griego,
director of food and nutrition services for the Santa
Monica-Malibu Unified School District. “We will not
be serving beef products until we receive clearance from the
state.”
“In the meantime we have been
replacing meals that have beef in them with turkey items or
chicken products. We are also still encouraging students to use
the salad bar,” Griego added.
Just days before this historic recall, two
Westland employees were charged with felony and
misdemeanor counts by the San Bernardino County District
Attorney Michael Ramos.
Employee Daniel Ugarte Navarro was charged
with five felony counts under California’s anticruelty
statue and three misdemeanor counts alleging the use
of a mechanical device to move socalled
“downer” cows—animals that are too ill
or otherwise unable to walk on their own—into the chute
that leads to the slaughterhouse kill box.
These felony charges could bring a sentence
of up to 15 years in prison, $100,000 in fines, plus additional
penalties on the misdemeanor charges.
The second employee, Jose Luis Sanchez, was
charged with three misdemeanors involving
downers and faces up to 18 months in jail and
$3000 in fines if convicted.
According to the group’s
spokespersons, never before in the knowledge of The Humane
Society of the United States have slaughter plant workers
faced charges of this nature.
“We applaud District Attorney Ramos
for taking decisive action in bringing felony counts against
people who abused animals in these heinous ways,”
said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the HSUS.
“He knows that this sort of cruelty can never be
tolerated, and because of his decision to prosecute,
justice is being served in this case.”
The enormous beef recall came in
response to an HSUS investigation documenting on
film—that is difficult to watch—downer cows
being severely mistreated at a Southern
California slaughter plant. In addition to the
cruelty issue, providing meat from downer cows can
also pose a serious risk to human health.
“The plant HSUS investigated has
been shut down indefinitely, its products have been
recalled, and two of its employees are now facing criminal
charges, with additional legal action certain to follow.
Every slaughter plant in the nation should heed the messages
sent by this investigation,” added Pacelle.
The HSUS is urging the USDA to take swift
criminal and civil action due to the fact that Hallmark/
Westland shipped potentially dangerous ground beef to
schools across the country as part of the National School
Lunch Program.
The matter has spotlighted feed animal
cruelty and health issues on the state and national level.
On Tuesday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
issued a statement about the current situation.
“Protecting consumers, particularly
children, from willful and deliberate violations of food
safety laws is among the most important
responsibilities of government,” said
Schwarzenegger. “If these allegations are
proven to be true and an isolated case, we expect
full criminal prosecution.”
Some animal activists, however, are
concerned this incident is the first inkling of widespread
industry cruelty to feed animals that will require a
major public outcry for redress.
