The Big Meat Recall Meets Big Praise

US - This week saw the largest ever US recall of beef meat, after it was discovered that a meat packing company was mistreating cattle and processing non-ambulatory cattle. 143 million pounds of beef has been labelled unfit for consumption and will be withdrawn from the market. Many are questioning the validity of the recall, considering that no illness has been reported, or even detected, but most have been quick to applaud the decision, including Bob Stallman, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

21 February 2008

2 minute read

North America

He says food safety is of the utmost importance to the nation's farmers and ranchers. "We support the Department of Agriculture as it investigates serious allegations against Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. During the USDA investigation of the meatpacking firm's mishandling and processing of non-ambulatory cattle, the American Farm Bureau Federation encourages the department to take strict and decisive actions to punish anyone responsible for violating our nation's food safety laws, or anyone allowing those violations to occur."

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"This situation is not acceptable and should not be tolerated at any facility processing beef for human consumption."

Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation

During the USDA investigation of the meatpacking firm's mishandling and processing of non-ambulatory cattle, the American Farm Bureau Federation encourages the department to take strict and decisive actions to punish anyone responsible for violating our nation's food safety laws, or anyone allowing those violations to occur.

“The voluntary recall of beef distributed over the last two years should be just the start of this process. Safeguards are in place to protect the safety of our nation's food supply and must be followed. This situation is not acceptable and should not be tolerated at any facility processing beef for human consumption.

“It is clear that non-ambulatory cattle were mishandled by workers at the Hallmark/Westland facility. We encourage USDA to address that issue and ensure that those responsible are dealt with in full accordance with the law. Strict regulations prohibit non-ambulatory cattle from entering the food supply. As this investigation unfolds, those who were responsible for allowing this situation to occur should be subject to the full penalties allowed by law.”