Did your child eat battered cows?

by Kris   ⋅   February 18, 2008   ⋅   Comment now   ⋅    RSS

“Downer Cows”, or cattle much too weak to stand on their own, left to lay in their own (and fellow cows’) feces for hours, obviously have a higher risk of disease, obviously are in excruciating pain. Less obvious is how workers for Westland/Hallmark Meat Company continued to illegally and inhumanely kick, shock, and drag downer cows to slaughter, ignoring their screams, ignoring the law, ignoring the health risks to humans.

How many humans? 143 million pounds of distributed frozen beef were recalled, the largest recall in U.S. history, although most of the affected meat has reportedly been consumed. Over 37 million pounds were sent to school lunch programs around the Nation.

You’re paying for it: over $41 million in taxpayers’ funding contributed to Westland Meat Company’s former success; their battered beef also supplying government programs for impoverished families and the elderly.

These crimes should not go unpunished! The USDA has indefinitely suspended Westland Meat Company. The manager in charge (seen operating the fork-lift that ran over the head of a downed cow in the video below) has been charged with five felony counts and three misdemeanors. Two of his stooges also face misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.

Undercover Humane Society Video at Westland (*graphic scenes):

These crimes need to stop! Severe animal cruelty has always accompanied Factory Farming, even though many meatlovers deny or simply do not care about the animal’s welfare as long as someone else does the killing. While I’m glad that this recall will aid awareness, I know there are many, many animals still suffering. In case you didn’t know, the video below will inform you that this irreprehensible treatment extends to all Factory Farm livestock. You are what you eat.