Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 10, 2008 4:13:57 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Cattle Horror Worker: Just 'Following Orders'

Posted Feb 29, 08 4:11 AM CST in Business,  Science & Health,  US 

(Newser) – A worker shown in a shocking undercover video jabbing apparently sick cows to their feet for slaughter was following orders from management, his lawyer said yesterday. The attorney made the accusation as he negotiated with federal investigators to work out a plea deal for his client, reports the Wall Street Journal. The video triggered a record recall of 143 million pounds of beef from the Hallmark/Westland California operation because such "downer" cows can be a source of mad cow disease.

The worker faces three misdemeanor charges of using equipment to move cows that couldn't walk or stand. Agriculture Secretary Edward Schafer tried to reassure senators yesterday that the beef supply is safe, despite conditions shown in the video. Some lawmakers were skeptical.  "We don't know if that meat that got into the food supply is safe or not," said one senator. "We can't say those things if we don't really know."

Source Wall Street Journal

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • USDA to Ban 'Downer' Cattle

    May 21, 08 2:49 AM CDT
    USDA to Ban 'Downer' Cattle The USDA plans to ban all so-called "downer" cattle from the food supply to safeguard consumers from illnesses such as mad cow disease. Such animals are too weak or injured to walk, which can often be an indication of illness. Disturbing video of workers in a California slaughterhouse using electric prods and a fork lift on cattle unable to stand, which prompted the move, triggered the largest beef recall in US history. More »

  • Meat Company Chief Admits Sick Cows Were Slaughtered

    Mar 12, 08 3:51 PM CDT
    Meat Company Chief Admits Sick Cows Were Slaughtered The president of the California slaughterhouse caught up in a scandal over the abuse of cattle admitted to Congress today that sick cows from his plant entered the food supply, the Los Angeles Times reports. He backtracked from an earlier denial after a House panel made him watch a second undercover video. "Obviously my system broke down," said Steve Mendell of Westland/Hallmark Meat. More »

  • Disgraced Meatpacker to Close Doors

    Feb 23, 08 12:34 PM CST
    Disgraced Meatpacker to Close Doors The biggest meat recall in history will put a fork in Hallmark/Westland, the meatpacker’s general manager told the Wall Street Journal. “I don’t see any way we could reopen,” he said. The USDA has said the California company could reopen under the right conditions, but demands that it pay for the meat’s destruction and replacement. “If the USDA wants payment back, we’re dead meat. We’re done.” More »

  • Meat Industry Pushes for Recall Cutback

    Feb 22, 08 1:08 PM CST
    Meat Industry Pushes for Recall Cutback The meat industry is trying to convince the USDA to ease up on the largest meat recall in the country's history, the Wall Street Journal reports. Government officials entertained the possibility of exempting products made up only partly of the recalled beef but apparently decided against relaxing the action. “The recall is as it was issued,” said a spokeswoman. More »

  • USDA Recalls 143M Lbs of Beef

    Feb 17, 08 3:27 PM CST
    USDA Recalls 143M Lbs of Beef The USDA today issued its biggest recall ever, recalling 143 million pounds of frozen beef from a slaughterhouse in Southern California that is currently being investigated for animal cruelty. The recall affects meat dating to Feb. 1 that originated in Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. The company distributes beef to major fast-food chains, as well as the federal school lunch program. More »

This booking photograph shows Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. employee Rafael Sanchez Herrera (previously identified as Jose Luis Sanchez), a suspect arrested in connection with the animal abuse incident at...   (Associated Press)
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer speaks testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, before the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies...   (Associated Press)
A worker walks on top of cattle carcases scraps dropped into a parked truck at the Hallmark Meat Packing slaughterhouse in Chino, Calif. Video footage showed workers at Hallmark Meat Packing repeatedly...   (Associated Press)
A security guard crosses the lot of Westland/Hallmark Meat Co.in Chino, Calif. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recalled 143 million pounds of frozen beef from this Southern California slaughterhouse,...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Beef Supply

Threads (
1
 of 1)

Tags

USDA  • Humane Society  • beef recall  • Westland/Hallmark Meat Co.  • beef industry  • Edward Schafer


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other US Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »