The US Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer has released a statement which announces the largest ever beef recall. It surpasses by far a 35 million pounds recall in 1999. The USDA has ordered Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company to recall all its beef products which came out of the Chino meat packing facility after Feb. 1, 2006.

"USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has evidence that Hallmark/Westland 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. Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection FSIS has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall," said Ed Schafer.

The Humane Society of the United States recently released a video which displays unnecessary cruelty against cows at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. meat factory in California. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer, who had been named on the job just a week before the incident, has blasted the inappropriate treatment of animals at the slaughterhouse, but he also criticized the Humane Society for not informing authorities in a timely manner.

The Humane Society of the United States conducted the six-week investigation at the end of last year at the Chino slaughterhouse. They released a graphic video this year showing workers using cruel methods to force sick cows to stand up in order to pass inspection for slaughter. The cows were kicked, shocked with electricity and dragged with chains, with some of them passing the checks.

This is not only a humanitarian concern, but also a health concern, because sick cows which are not in sound health and do not stand on their own are prohibited from being slaughtered because they have a much higher risk of carrying disease or harmful bacteria.

"The prohibition of non-ambulatory cattle from the food supply is an additional safeguard against bovine spongiform encephalopathy. [...] I am dismayed at the in-humane handling of cattle that has resulted in the violation of food safety regulations at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. [...] this action is necessary because plant procedures violated USDA regulations," US Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said in the statement.