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Largest Beef Recall in U.S. History

By FindLaw Staff

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the recall of 143 million pounds of beef produced by a California slaughterhouse. U.S. officials are calling it the largest beef recall in U.S. history. Government investigation revealed that certain cattle at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company in Chino, California were ill, disabled, or "nonambulatory" before being slaughtered, in violation of Food Safety Inspection Service regulations. The recall applies to all Hallmark/Westland raw and frozen beef products produced since February 1, 2006. According to the Associated Press, "Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after an undercover Humane Society video surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts." No illnesses have been linked to the recalled beef products, and federal officials are calling health risks related to the recalled beef "small."

• USDA Statement on the Beef Recall
• Q&A on the Beef Recall (USDA)
• Associated Press: USDA Orders Nations Largest Beef Recall
• CNN.com: Products Affected by Beef Recall

Full post as published by FindLaw's Common Law on February 17, 2008 (boomark / email).