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FSIS Suspends Inspections at Hallmark/Westland

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

Dr. Richard Raymond, USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety, announced in a statement the suspension of FSIS inspections at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company.  The suspension is in response to the company’s violations of Federal regulations and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.

The Hallmark/Westland voluntarily stopped production on February 1 and the suspension will be in effect until the company submits a written document containing ways to correct their treatment of animals.

The suspension has impacted the company's ability to supply food for government programs.  According to the statement:

USDA at the time of the hold also indefinitely suspended the eligibility of Westland Meat Packing Company to participate as a supplier to Federal food and nutrition programs, specifically the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

On Jan. 30, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer called upon the Office of the Inspector General to work with FSIS and the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service to conduct an investigation into allegations of inhumane handling of non-ambulatory disabled cattle at Westland Meat Packing Company. These allegations were made by the Humane Society of the United States against Westland Meat Company.

Many school cafeterias around the country have temporarily stopped serving cheese burgers and other meals containing beef.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on February 06, 2008 (boomark / email).