18 February 2008

Can Oprah Say She Won't Eat Beef Now?

The U.S. Department of agriculture has ordered a recall of 143 million pounds of frozen beef slaughtered at Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing, a company that provided meat to school lunch programs.

The investigation,

"...documented animals too sick or injured to stand or walk—called"downers" by industry—being kicked, beaten, dragged with chains, shocked with electric prods, sprayed in the face with hoses, and rammed by forklifts in efforts to get them to their feet to pass USDA inspection."

(Video has some intense footage.)



"We think the food supply is safe," said Kenneth Petersen, the assistant administrator for field operations for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA. AFP article here.

4 comments:

Natalie said...

Shit like this makes me wonder why there aren't more of us vegetarians. I couldn't watch this video--I'm still upset about the footage of frightened cattle at a slaughterhouse that I saw on the news several nights ago.

Erik said...

Yeah...this one is really rough to watch, but I think it's important for people to know what is going on.

Everyone is always hollering, "Please think of the children!". There has been almost no talk of this in the mainstream news and it is a huge national story.

Natalie said...

I agree; I never said that it wasn't important. But the footage to which I was referring was aired on the news in support of this story--that's why I can't watch any more of it. I get it--and I'm angry, disgusted and horrified because of it.

Erik said...

Sorry...I didn't read your comment as well as I should have. I am glad there are more of us out there who are outraged by how these things are and are not reported.

I did not mean to imply you didn't feel it is important, I know you do. I wouldn't post this sort of thing if people like you were my only audience.

Save Elsie, eat a carrot.