Feb 27, 2008 10:48 am US/Pacific
Humane Society Sues USDA Over Beef Regulations
SACRAMENTO (AP) ―
The Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the government alleging that a legal loophole allows so-called "downer" cows to get into the food supply.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the largest beef recall in history Feb. 17 after the Humane Society released undercover video showing workers at Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. shoving sick or crippled cows with forklifts to get them to stand.
In 2004, the USDA tightened regulations to prohibit the slaughter of all "downer" cows—animals that cannot stand— after a case of mad cow disease was discovered in Washington state.
The lawsuit, however, alleges that in July 2007, the USDA altered federal regulations to allow some sick or crippled cows into the food supply.
Under that rule change, the lawsuit alleges, cows that fell down after an initial veterinarian inspection but appeared otherwise healthy could be slaughtered.
Amanda Eamich, a spokeswoman for the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, said she had not seen the lawsuit and could not immediately comment.
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