The Story of the Largest Beef Recall in US History

The Story of the Largest Beef Recall in US History
A California company recalled almost 65 million kilograms of beef after evidence of animal abuse was reported. Transcript of radio broadcast:
10 March 2008

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

On February seventeenth, the Westland/Hallmark Meat Company of Chino, California, recalled almost sixty-five million kilograms of beef. The government declared the products unfit for human food. Officials at the Department of Agriculture said the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection.

The beef recall was the largest in American history. But the government rated the health risk as low. No cases of sickness have been reported.

The beef was produced over the last two years. Almost all of it went to federal programs to provide lunches for schoolchildren. Some also went to federal programs for Indian reservations and emergency food aid.

About half of the beef had already been used when the recall took place. The recall followed the public release of video secretly recorded by the Humane Society of the United States. The video showed workers at the Chino slaughterhouse mistreating "downers" -- the name for sick or injured cows unable to stand.

The workers kicked them and shot water at their faces. They also used electric shocks and forklift trucks to force the animals to their feet. The Agriculture Department bans downer cattle from entering the food supply. The ban is part of measures to protect against the human version of mad cow disease.

Westland/Hallmark is closed until investigations are completed, and its deals to supply federal programs are suspended. Local officials have brought animal cruelty charges against two employees. And lawmakers in Congress have ordered the head of the company to appear at a hearing this week, saying he refused an earlier invitation.

At the end of February, the Humane Society brought a lawsuit against the Agriculture Department over a change in its inspection rules. The group says the change made last year could make it easier for sick and injured cows to enter the food supply.

Officials defend the inspection process, but have also announced new measures, including inspections outside approved hours of operation.

When food recalls are announced, they often include the names of some of the stores that were supplied with the products. But under a new state law, California has published an online list of the names, addresses and phone numbers of thousands of places affected by the beef recall. These include markets, restaurants, hotels and school systems.

And that’s the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I’m Steve Ember.

----------------------------Google Translate

故事的最大牛肉记得，在美国历史上
加州公司召回近65000000公斤牛肉后，证据的虐待动物的行为被举报。全文电台广播：
2008年3月10日

这是美国之音特别英语农业部报告。

二月十七，华兰/标志肉食公司的汉语，加利福尼亚州，回忆起几乎65000000公斤牛肉。政府宣布该产品不适宜人类的食物。官员在农业部门表示，牛没有得到完整和正确的检查。

牛肉记得是最大的美国历史。但政府评为健康风险低。任何案件病被报导。

牛肉生产在过去两年中。几乎所有的，它到联邦计划提供午餐的学童。有些人也到联邦政府计划为印度保留和紧急粮食援助。

大约有一半的牛肉已经使用的时候记得发生。罢免案之后公布的秘密录像记录的人道协会的美国。录像显示工人在汉语屠宰场虐待" downers " -名称为生病或受伤的奶牛不能站立。

工人踢他们开枪水在他们脸上。他们还用电击和铲车，迫使动物，以他们的脚。农业部禁止唐纳牛进入食品供应。该禁令是部分措施，以保护对人类版本的疯牛病。

华兰/标志关闭，直到调查完成，它涉及到联邦供应计划已暂时停止。地方官员带来了虐待动物案控告两名雇员。与国会议员在国会已下令主管该公司将出现在听证会这个星期说，他拒绝了先前的邀请。

截至二月底，人道的社会带来状告农业部超过变化，有其检验规则。该组织说，改变了去年一年可以使它更容易生病和受伤的牛进入食品供应。

美国高级官员的视察过程，而且还宣布了一系列新措施，包括检查核准境外的操作时间。

当食品召回公布后，他们通常包括姓名，其中一些商店供应与产品。但根据新的国家法律，加州发表了一个在线的名单，地址和电话号码的数以千计的地方受牛肉罢免案。这些措施包括市场，餐馆，饭店及学校系统。

这也是该美国之音特别英语农业部报告，写jerilyn沃森。我史蒂夫Ember公司。