DeLauro Statement on Hallmark/Westland Beef Recall

Statement

DeLauro Statement on Hallmark/Westland Beef Recall

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) issued the following statement regarding the recall of 143 million pounds of frozen beef from Hallmark/Westland Meat Co. of Chino, CA. A Human Society video recently revealed cattle abuse at Hallmark/Westland, a major supplier of beef for the National School Lunch Program. DeLauro has called for an independent investigation by the Government Accountability Office into the federal government's effort to ensure the safety of meat in the nation's schools.

"The recall involving the Hallmark/Westland case is disturbing not necessarily because of the historic volume of meat being recalled, but because they were one of the largest meat suppliers to the school lunch program. When it comes to providing food to our school children, we have to be extra vigilant in ensuring the food is safe to consume so I am alarmed that this recall was not insisted upon sooner.

"Another particularly frightening part of this case is that USDA never would have encountered this problem if it were not for the undercover investigation and video released by the Humane Society. This case did not evolve because of any USDA inspection initiative, and it clearly demonstrates that the agency does not have the infrastructure to monitor our beef supply adequately.

"Had it not been for the Humane Society's work, we may have never discovered this problem and never would have realized that potentially contaminated meat was being used for school lunches. We must continue to take steps to ensure that the school lunch program does not become the industry's dumping ground for bad meat. "

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