CHINO, Calif., Feb 3, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Allegations that a California
slaughterhouse used at-risk cattle for beef products have left some schools
struggling to maintain safety standards.
The Los Angeles Times said Sunday that since the Hallmark Meat Packing was
accused of creating beef products from so-called downer cattle, school officials
across southern California have been trying to determine if they had purchased
any contaminated meat.
"We're in contact with our suppliers, and they're in contact with their
suppliers. It's a huge chain of activity," San Diego Unified School District
official Joanne Tucker said of the ongoing safety effort.
As a precaution, the California Department of Education has asked all area
schools not to serve any items containing ground beef until a thorough
investigation can be completed.
The Times said the U.S. Department of Agriculture is heading up the inquiry into
the slaughterhouse in Chino, Calif., where cattle too weak to walk were used for
food products.
Under USDA regulations, using "non-ambulatory" cattle for products destined for
human consumption is illegal due to concerns of spreading bovine spongiform
encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International