USDA Recalls Record 143 Million Pounds of Beef

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today issued the mandatory recall of a record 143 million pounds of beef, about 37 million pounds of which was distributed to school lunch programs.

The recalled beef, dating back to Feb. 1, 2006, was processed by Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company, a Southern California processing plant currently under investigation by the USDA for mistreating cattle. According to Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, the Westland failed to call in veterinarians when cattle became non-ambulatory after passing initial inspections. "Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection. the Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall," said Sec. Schafer in a prepared statement.

All of the recalled beef was delivered to federal food and nutrition programs, including the school lunch program. While the USDA believes most of the recalled beef has already been consumed, any product found remaining in the inventory of federal food and nutrition programs will be destroyed.

No illnesses known to be related to the recalled beef have been reported.

The USDA has issued the full transcript of a technical briefing on the recall and a series of Questions and Answers on the recall and the safety of the U.S. food supply in general.

UPDATE: USDA Explains, Responds to Beef Recall