Personal Injury Law

Hallmark and Westland Meat Packing Company of Chino, California establishment is recalling approximately 143,383,823 pounds of raw and frozen beef products

By Bill Marler, Esq.

The Largest Recall in United States History occurred today.

Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company of Chino, California establishment is recalling approximately 143,383,823 pounds of raw and frozen beef products that FSIS has determined to be unfit for human food because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection. According to an FSIS press release, through evidence obtained by FSIS, the establishment did not consistently contact the FSIS public health veterinarian in situations in which cattle became non-ambulatory after passing ante-mortem inspection, which is not compliant with FSIS regulations. Such circumstances require that an FSIS public health veterinarian reassess the non-ambulatory cattle which are either condemned and prohibited from the food supply, or tagged as suspect. Suspect cattle receive a more thorough inspection after slaughter than is customary.  Full Release.

In July 2007, FSIS issued a final rule “Prohibition of the Use of Specified Risk Materials for Human Food and Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle.” This rule requires that a case by case disposition must be made by an FSIS Public Health Veterinarian for every animal that becomes non-ambulatory disabled (“downer”) after passing ante-mortem inspection.

All products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 336” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on various dates from Feb. 1, 2006 to Feb. 2, 2008.  Companies are urged to check their inventories and hold the products until the recalling firm makes arrangements for final disposition of the products.   Full FSIS Website.

See Labels.  The following products are subject to recall:

• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., BURRITO FILLING MIX.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., PACKED FOR JACOBELLIES SAUSAGE
CO., 74/26 GROUND BEEF.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., RAW GROUND BEEF MEATBALL MIX
FOR FURTHER PROCESSING.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., COARSE GROUND BEEF ‘FOR COOKING
ONLY’, FAT: 15%.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., COARSE GROUND BEEF ‘FOR COOKING
ONLY’.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., COARSE GROUND BEEF TO BE FURTHER
PROCESSED INTO COOKED ITEMS, FAT: 15%.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., COARSE GROUND BEEF 85/15.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., COARSE GROUND BEEF 93/7.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., FINE GROUND BEEF ‘FOR COOKING
ONLY’, FAT: 15%.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., FINE GROUND BEEF ‘FOR COOKING
ONLY’.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., 90 - 10% GROUND BEEF, 3/16 GRIND.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., GROUND BEEF 1 LB. PACKAGE, FAT:
15%.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., GROUND BEEF, FAT: 15%.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., RAW BONELESS BEEF TRIMMINGS, ‘FOR
COOKING ONLY’.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., RAW BONELESS BEEF, ‘FOR COOKING
ONLY’.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., BEEF GROUND 50/50% LEAN.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., BEEF GROUND 73/27% LEAN.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., BEEF GROUND 81/19% LEAN.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., BONELESS BEEF 90/10.”
• Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., GROUND PORK FOR FURTHER
PROCESSING NOT TO EXCEED 30% FAT.”
• Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF TRI TIP.”
• Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF TOP SIRLOIN BUTT.”
• Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF STRIP SIRLOIN.”
• Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF RIB EYE LIP-ON.”
• Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF PISMO TENDERLOIN.”
• Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF O/S SKIRT.”
• Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF I/S SKIRT.”
• Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF FLANK STEAK.”
• Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF BOTTOM SIRLOIN FLAP.”
• Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF STRIP LOIN BONE-IN,
FURTHER PROCESS 1X1.”
• Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF EXPORT RIB 2X2,
FURTHER PROCESS.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF RIBEYE ROLL LIP-ON.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF RIBEYE ROLL LIP-
ON.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF PLATE, OUTSIDE SKIRT.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF PLATE, OUTSIDE
SKIRT.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF PLATE, INSIDE SKIRT.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF PLATE, INSIDE
SKIRT.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF LOIN, STRIP LOIN,
BONELESS.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF LOIN, STRIP LOIN,
BONELESS.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF LOIN, BOTTOM SIRLOIN
BUTT, FLAP, BONELESS.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF LOIN, BOTTOM
SIRLOIN BUTT, FLAP, BONELESS.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF LOIN, TOP SIRLOIN BUTT,
BONELESS.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF LOIN, TOP
SIRLOIN BUTT, BONELESS.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF LOIN, TENDERLOIN, FULL,
SIDE MUSCLE ON, DEFATTED.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF LOIN,
TENDERLOIN, FULL, SIDE MUSCLE ON, DEFATTED.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF FLANK STEAK.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF FLANK STEAK.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF, BOTTOM SIRLOIN BUTT TRI
TIP BONELESS.”
• Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF, BOTTOM
SIRLOIN BUTT TRI TIP BONELESS.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF LIVERS.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF FEET.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF TRIPE.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF REGULAR TRIPE.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF HONEYCOMB TRIPE.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF TAILS.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF CHEEK MEAT.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF TONGUES.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF TONGUE TRIMMINGS.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF BONELESS.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF RIBS.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF HEARTS.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF CHEEKS.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF PLATES.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF SMALL INTESTINES.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF LIPS.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF SPLEENS.”
• Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF SALIVARY GLANDS, LYMPH
NODES AND FAT [TONGUES].”
• Six-gallon containers of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF BILE.”
• One- and six-gallon containers of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF BLOOD, .2% SODIUM
CITRATE ADDED.”

Full post as published by Marler Blog on February 17, 2008 (boomark / email).