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Chino Slaughterhouse Cited For Electric Prods

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Feb 8, 2008 2:18 pm US/Pacific

Chino Slaughterhouse Cited For Electric Prods

CHINO (AP) ― A Chino slaughterhouse shut down this week by federal officials for allegedly mistreating cattle was previously cited for using electric prods on animals.

However, USDA officials said Friday that investigations have found no evidence that meat from disabled animals has entered the food supply. Federal regulations call for keeping downer cows out of the food supply because they may pose a higher risk of E. coli, salmonella contamination, or mad cow disease since they typically wallow in feces and their immune systems are often weak.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture cited Westland/Hallmark Meat in 2005 for "too much electric prodding" of cattle and other violations of federal humane slaughter policies at the Westland plant in Chino. But USDA officials told reporters Friday no problems have been found since then until the most recent incident.

Westland Meat voluntarily suspended operations last week after the release of undercover video taken by a Humane Society of the United States. The video showed, among other things, ramming of downed cattle with forklifts.

The Agriculture Department then suspended Westland operations. The agency inspector general is investigating and could refer matters to the Justice Department for criminal charges.

The company said two employees had been fired.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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