Feb 1, 2008 1:00 pm US/Pacific
Schools Urged To Stop Serving Most Beef Products
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
The California Department of Education is urging school districts throughout the state to stop serving all but a few beef products after allegations that a Chino-based meat supplier butchered weak or ill cattle.
The department's Nutrition Services Division advised agencies Thursday not to use beef products from Westland Meat Co. -- a National School Lunch Program supplier -- until further notice.
"In addition, we recommend that agencies not use any processed end-products containing beef pending further instructions," the alert said.
Such beef products would include uncooked ground beef used in hamburgers, meatballs, etc.
The alert says the state is working to identify products made with Westland meat, the are not sure at this time which products contain Westland meat.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wednesday indefinitely suspended use of all Westland Meat Co. products following allegations by the Humane Society of the United States.
The actions against Westland follow news that the USDA is investigating the company after the release of a video showing slaughterhouse workers using forklifts and water hoses to move or rouse weak and sick cows before slaughter.
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