Feb 1, 2008 10:22 am US/Pacific
Schools Urged To Stop Serving Most Beef Products
Chino-Based Meat Supplier Accused Of Abusing Cows
LOS ANGELES
-
-
Undercover Humane Society video footage shows sick cows being rammed with forklift blades, being kicked by workers, prodded with electric rods and sprayed with water at a Chino-based meat supplier.
CBS
The California Department of Education is urging school districts throughout the state, including the LAUSD, to stop serving all but a few beef products after allegations that a Chino-based meat supplier butchered weak or ill cattle.
The department's Nutrition Services Division advised agencies Thursday not to use beef products from Westland Meat Co. -- a National School Lunch Program supplier -- until further notice.
"In addition, we recommend that agencies not use any processed end-products containing beef pending further instructions," the alert said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Such beef products would include uncooked ground beef used in hamburgers, meatballs and "teriyaki dippers," officials said, according to The Times.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wednesday indefinitely suspended use of all Westland Meat Co. products following allegations by the Humane Society of the United States, the Los Angeles Unified School District reported.
The actions against Westland follow news that the USDA is investigating the company after the release of a video showing slaughterhouse workers using forklifts and water hoses to move or rouse weak and sick cows before slaughter.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
