Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co.is voluntarily recalling approximately 143,383,823 pounds of raw and frozen beef products. USDA noted that this is a Class II recall, because it does not present a health risk of any significance to consumers. The recall is occurring because Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. did not follow regulations for handling non-ambulatory, or "downer," cattle prior to harvest. This is the largest beef recall in United States history.
NCBA's checkoff-funded team is working overtime for producers to proactively reach out to consumers and reassure them about the safety of beef through media, online sources, state beef councils and the School Nutrition Association.
In tandem, NCBA's policy team is working hard to protect against unnecessary government intervention in, and regulation of, our industry; combat activist tactics against cattlemen and keep producers informed about breaking developments.
NCBA stands strongly against any form of animal mistreatment, and our member-developed and member-approved Guidelines for the Care and Handling of Animals acts as a guiding document for cattlemen, and speaks clearly to our members' belief in the humane treatment of animals within the beef production system.
NCBA has called on USDA to strictly enforce regulation that prevents sick animals from entering the food supply, and ensure that onsite inspectors are abiding by the requirements of our inspection systems. Punishment for lack of enforcement must be swift and strong. NCBA supports continued investigations to determine if the systems to enforce these laws can be strengthened to ensure that these "incidents" do not occur in the future.
NCBA believes all industry segments have a responsibility for wholesome product and quality control. We, as cattlemen, have a responsibility and commitment to send healthy animals to the processor. Similarly, our industry partners in the processing sector also have a responsibility to provide adequate employee supervision, so the animals we send them are treated humanely, and the beef they produce remains wholesome and desirable for consumers. The entire beef industry has a duty to take measures to ensure the quality of our animal care as well as our final product.
Industry data gained through Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) programs indicate beef producers have made significant reductions since 1999 in the number of non-ambulatory cattle arriving at processing plants. The 2007 Market Cow and Bull Beef Quality Audit found less than 1.5% of the supply of dairy cattle and approaching 0% of the supply of beef cattle shipped for processing are non-ambulatory. Therefore, prohibition of sick cattle from the food supply at the plant level should not cause undue burden on our packer partners.