More Meat Processors Cited for Maltreatment of Animals

The largest recall of beef earlier this year was only scratching the surface of the problem, apparently.

Two of the country’s biggest beef producers received “noncompliance” determinations following Agriculture Department inspections and now face allegations of humane practices.

In an Associated Press exclusive report, National Beef Packing Co. in Dodge City, Kan., and Cargill Meat Solution in Fresno, Calif., were hit with the violations. A Freedom of Information Act request allowed the AP access to the documents.

In audits conducted by the Ag Department on 18 beef slaughterhouses, cattle were not being stunned properly on first attempts, were kept in overcrowded conditions and some even had to be electrically prodded to incite some movement.

Allowing cattle which has difficulty moving on its own increases the risk of bacteria from any number of surfaces from contaminating meat. These cattle are known as “downers” and are supposed to be separated from the herd to prevent Mad Cow Disease.

This is what prompted the largest beef recall in the nation’s history earlier this year when 143 million pounds of beef were called back from Hallmark/Westland, a California meat processor.

Cargill has since appealed charges and the Ag Department agreed with the appeal and instead, sent the company a “letter of concern” over its practices.

The audits also revealed shut-down orders were issued to Martin’s Abattoir and Wholesale Meats in Goodwin, N.C., for insufficiently stunning animals, which makes them sensitive to pain. A noncompliance order was issued to Dakota Premium Foods in South St. Paul, Minn., for excessive bunching of cattle about to be stunned.