Slaughterhouse abuse brings firings

WASHINGTON – A California slaughterhouse Wednesday fired two employees, and the Agriculture Department opened a formal investigation following revelations that the plant used inhumane and what appear to be illegal methods to get sick and hobbled cows past federal inspectors.

The abuse, shown in videotapes shot with a concealed camera by an employee who was working undercover for the Humane Society of the United States, included zealous use of electric prods to get ailing animals on their feet; chains to drag live cows down a ramp toward the killing room; and repeated jabs with the prongs of a forklift, which was also used to roll ailing animals along the ground.

Federal and California laws ban inhumane treatment of animals and generally do not allow livestock to be slaughtered for food if they cannot stand or walk under their own power. Such animals, known as “downers,” are at heightened risk for infections from E. coli, salmonella and the agent that causes mad cow disease, which can also cause a brain disease in people.

The operation in question, Hallmark Meat Packing, is the slaughterhouse partner of Westland Meat Co. of Chino, Calif., which has been a major supplier of beef to the federal school lunch program – a fact that inspired several members of Congress on Wednesday to demand state and federal investigations.

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer on Wednesday suspended indefinitely Westland’s participation in the lunch program and placed a hold on all Westland products destined for any federal food programs.

Steve Mendell, president of Westland, released a statement Wednesday expressing shock at what was shown in the videotape.