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Former Calif. Slaughterhouse Employees Charged in Abuse Scandal
Friday, February 15, 2008
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Two former employees of a Chino slaughterhouse
were charged Friday with abusing ailing cattle in a case that came to light
when video surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with
forklifts.
Five felony counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanors were filed
against Daniel Navarro, 49, of Pomona, and three misdemeanor counts were
filed against Luis Sanchez, 32, of Chino.
The misdemeanors allege illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal.
The men were to be arraigned Friday afternoon. Further details were being
released by prosecutors at a late-morning conference.
The slaughterhouse is operated by Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., which supplies
meat to the federal school lunch program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after the video surfaced, and on
Thursday lawmakers in Washington called for an investigation.
The video showed, among other things, cattle being rammed with forklifts and
workers kicking, shocking and otherwise abusing "downer" animals that were
apparently too sick or injured to walk into the slaughterhouse.
The two employees seen in the video were fired and their supervisor was
suspended.
USDA officials have put a hold until Feb. 19 on meat products from the
facility, which are also used by major hamburger chains around the nation.
Investigations have found no evidence that meat from disabled animals has
entered the food supply.
Federal regulations call for keeping downed cattle out of the food supply
because they may pose a higher risk of E. coli, salmonella contamination or
mad cow disease because they typically wallow in feces and their immune
systems are often weak.
About 150 school districts around the nation have stopped using ground beef
from Hallmark Meat Packing Co., which is associated with Westland. There
have been no reported illnesses linked to the beef at any of the schools.
Some fast-food chains also have halted using products from
Westland/Hallmark.
Westland President Steve Mendell said in a letter posted on the company's
Web site that he was "shocked and horrified" by what he saw on the video.
The USDA inspector general is looking into Westland's procedures and could
turn over information to the Justice Department for criminal charges.
Former Calif. Slaughterhouse Employees Charged in Abuse Scandal
Friday, February 15, 2008
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Two former employees of a Chino slaughterhouse
were charged Friday with abusing ailing cattle in a case that came to light
when video surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with
forklifts.
Five felony counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanors were filed
against Daniel Navarro, 49, of Pomona, and three misdemeanor counts were
filed against Luis Sanchez, 32, of Chino.
The misdemeanors allege illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal.
The men were to be arraigned Friday afternoon. Further details were being
released by prosecutors at a late-morning conference.
The slaughterhouse is operated by Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., which supplies
meat to the federal school lunch program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after the video surfaced, and on
Thursday lawmakers in Washington called for an investigation.
The video showed, among other things, cattle being rammed with forklifts and
workers kicking, shocking and otherwise abusing "downer" animals that were
apparently too sick or injured to walk into the slaughterhouse.
The two employees seen in the video were fired and their supervisor was
suspended.
USDA officials have put a hold until Feb. 19 on meat products from the
facility, which are also used by major hamburger chains around the nation.
Investigations have found no evidence that meat from disabled animals has
entered the food supply.
Federal regulations call for keeping downed cattle out of the food supply
because they may pose a higher risk of E. coli, salmonella contamination or
mad cow disease because they typically wallow in feces and their immune
systems are often weak.
About 150 school districts around the nation have stopped using ground beef
from Hallmark Meat Packing Co., which is associated with Westland. There
have been no reported illnesses linked to the beef at any of the schools.
Some fast-food chains also have halted using products from
Westland/Hallmark.
Westland President Steve Mendell said in a letter posted on the company's
Web site that he was "shocked and horrified" by what he saw on the video.
The USDA inspector general is looking into Westland's procedures and could
turn over information to the Justice Department for criminal charges.