Congress Wants More Info on Hallmark Beef Recall

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers demanded Thursday that the Agriculture Department disclose which retailers sold meat that was recently recalled in the nation's largest beef recall.

Richard Raymond, the department's undersecretary for food safety, told angry Democrats on the House Appropriations agriculture subcommittee that the information is proprietary and can't be made public.

Some 10,000 consignees — from producers to retail establishments — received the potentially tainted meat from the Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. in Chino, Calif., Raymond said. But he said he couldn't reveal which ones, and most of the meat had already been eaten because the recall stretched back two years.

Westland/Hallmark recalled 143 million pounds of beef last month after the Humane Society of the United States released undercover video of cattle being abused and cows that couldn't walk being prodded to slaughter.

Democratic lawmakers said it was unacceptable for the public not to know where the meat went. So-called ``downer'' cattle pose a higher risk of E. coli, Salmonella and other illnesses.

``This is not proprietary information. This is information that is directly engaged in the health and safety of the American people, which we have a responsibility, along with you, to protect,'' said Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y.

Hinchey demanded a list of the retailers by next week. Raymond said he'd consult with Agriculture Department attorneys on whether he could comply.

Read the full Associated Press story here.