WASHINGTON — The agriculture secretary on Thursday resisted calls at a Senate hearing for a complete ban on so-called downer cattle — those unable to walk — from entering the food supply.
In the wake of the largest beef recall in U.S. history, USDA Secretary Edward Schafer announced new steps to ensure the safety of the U.S. meat supply, including more random slaughterhouse inspections and immediate audits of the 23 plants that supply meat for federal programs, primarily school lunches.
He rejected senators' calls to completely ban from slaughter any cattle unable to walk, contending they occasionally could enter the food supply safely, in accordance with USDA rules, after an additional inspection by a veterinarian. "Downer" cows are at higher risk of carrying E. coli and Salmonella bacteria and of having the wasting neurological illness known as "mad cow disease."
The standoff came at a Senate subcommittee hearing triggered by practices at Westland/Hallmark Meat of Chino, Calif., after 143 million pounds of beef processed there was recalled, including 50 million pounds shipped to school cafeterias. Undercover video shot by the Humane Society of the United States showed downer cows being forced to slaughter by workers who poked them with electric prods or rolled them with forklifts.
"No one wants another Westland/Hallmark situation anywhere in the country," said Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis. "We cannot allow a single downer cow to enter our food supply under any circumstances. We need to have tougher standards, round-the-clock surveillance and stiffer penalties."
Schafer resisted on all counts, insisting that current rules, when followed, are adequate.
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