Electric Fishwrap

Federal agency’s probe targets California slaughterhouse

By KATE MARTIN
Skagit Valley Herald staff writer

Some local school districts are removing beef from menus altogether until the results of a U.S. Department of Agriculture investigation are released.

The USDA placed dozens of beef products on hold last week while investigating a California slaughterhouse for animal cruelty. Much of the meat went to school districts around the nation.

Anacortes, La Conner, Concrete and Sedro-Woolley school districts are all removing beef from the menus, according to district officials. Mount Vernon, Burlington-Edison and Conway districts are holding the beef in question, but are serving beef not on the hold list.

Concern over the beef arose after video footage by the Humane Society showed Hallmark Meat Packing Co. workers repeatedly kicking and ramming cows considered “downed” — too sick or injured to walk — into a federally inspected slaughterhouse. Food regulations do not allow the sale of meat from downed animals because they are more likely to harbor disease.

The video showed employees of the company’s slaughter plant jabbing downed cows in the eyes, and prodding them with the blades of a forklift to make them stand for slaughter.

The beef is not recalled but is on hold, said Don Vennetti, food services manager for the Burlington-Edison School District. He said the district has enough meat to last through February, but he’s also had to buy more meat to keep a varied menu.

Vennetti said he’s not sure how long the hold will last, but if it’s very long, replacing meat “may bite into our budget toward the end of the year.”

Ten cases of beef have been red-flagged at the Mount Vernon School District.

Approximately 400 pounds will remain frozen in the district’s food warehouse until the USDA releases more information on the hold, said David Connors, Mount Vernon food services supervisor.

“We get a lot of food notifications by the government through an e-mail system that sends out information,” said Connors, who first heard of the hold Friday morning. “You usually get a lot of emails when something like this happens.”

None of the beef was distributed or used by the food service program, Connors said.

“It definitely could become a recall if something came to light and they’re not sure if it’s something we should use,” he said.

The district sent home a letter to parents Friday notifying them of the hold. Connors said he changed the meal plan slightly as a result.

The Agriculture Department announced an investigation although Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said the department is unaware of an immediate health risk.

Hallmark has stopped operations at the California plant, fired two employees shown in the video and suspended their supervisor.

Georgia Johnson, head of food services for the La Conner School District, said she’s disappointed in officials at the meatpacking plant that allowed the abuse to happen.

“There’s an ethics concern with the maltreatment of animals and somehow the people who are in control … are not concerned about the wellbeing of children,” she said.

Originally published Feb. 5, 2007.