Feds Fine Chino Slaughterhouse $67M For Recall

[Kadie]

Apr 10, 2008 11:55 am US/Pacific

Feds Fine Chino Slaughterhouse $67M For Recall

CHINO (AP) ― The federal government said Thursday it has billed a California slaughterhouse more than $67 million for expenses associated with the largest beef recall in U.S. history.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recalled 143 million pounds of beef in February after the Humane Society of the United States released undercover video showing plant employees abusing sick or weakened cows at the Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Co. An agency review found that some of the so-called "downer" cows were slaughtered in violation of USDA policy, which prompted the recall.

The USDA billed the plant $67.2 million on April 4 for more than 50 million pounds of beef the government purchased for the National School Lunch Program, said Craig Morris, deputy administrator of the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

Further bills for the cost of destroying the beef and resupplying affected schools with good beef could cost up to $50 million more, Morris said.

If the plant can't pay -- which is likely -- taxpayers will pick up the bill, officials said.

http://cbs13.com/national/Feds.Hallmark.Fine.2.696854.html

[Hekate]

1. Which begs the question: how much would it have cost to hire enough inspectors in the first place?

:argh:

Hekate

[MidwestTransplant]

3. Republicans don't think that way.

[kestrel91316]

4. Hiring inspectors is not the issue. Listening to what the inspectors

and their supervising veterinarians have to say is the issue.

You don't really think the USDA and FDA LISTEN to the whistleblowers on the kill floor do you? LOL

The problem is with the higher-ups, who are specifically appointed by Bush to monkeywrench and "starve the beast".

[flvegan]

2. Sounds like the last cow has died at that wretched place.

No pity from me.