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. ...