USDA Orders Record Beef Recall

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Sunday it had ordered the recall of 143 million pounds of beef from a California slaughterhouse in what is the largest beef recall in U.S. history.

The beef came from the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company, which was supplying food for the National School Lunch Program and for emergency food assistance, according to the USDA Web site.

The recall covers raw and frozen beef produced since Feb. 1, 2006.

The department provided details of its action in a conference call with reporters.

The department has been investigating the company and says there is evidence it routinely failed to contact department veterinarians when cows became unable to move after they had passed a pre-slaughter inspection. Nonambulatory animals aren't allowed to pass inspection, as a safeguard against bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad-cow disease. Cows suffering from the disease become unable to stand as their brains and spinal cords degenerate. When cattle become unable to walk after their pre-slaughter inspection, slaughterhouses are required to contact the department.

"I am dismayed at the in-humane handling of cattle that has resulted in the violation of food safety regulations at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company," said Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, in a statement posted on the department's Web site. He added that it was unlikely that any of the cattle at the slaughterhouse were at risk for mad-cow disease.

Officials stressed that the beef in question at the slaughterhouse had passed a pre-slaughter inspection.