Ban on Sick 'Downer' Cattle Finalized in US

As of yesterday, March 14, 2009, cattle too sick or injured , called "downers", will not be allowed to enter any US slaughterhouses. The rule was finalized yesterday, almost a year after what is said to be the largest beef recall in American History.

Washington, DC - In May 2008, the USDA proposed the ban three months after a telling video was shown that these downer cattle were being abused needlessly by workers at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Plant in California in an effort to get the cattle up and into the slaughterhouse. This same video and media attention initiated Hallmark to recall some 143 million pounds ( close to 65 tons) of beef. It is considered the largest recall in America's history. In a statement that was released, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, "This rule is designed to enhance consumer confidence and humane handling standards and will provide clear guidance that non-ambulatory cattle will not be allowed to enter the human food supply." He went on to say that this was a step toward more humane treatment of animals as well as setting a higher standard for food safety. Even though a majority of downer animals were banned, the USDA did allow some of the injured animals to enter the slaughterhouse after they had been inspected, and it was the packer's responsibility to notify USDA veterinarians so that these cattle could be re-approved for slaughter. About 2700 of the 34 million cattle slaughtered in 2007 were reinspected under this exception. Just under 1000 were approved and allowed to enter the food supply, according to USDA. Now, under this new ruling, these animals would be blocked from being slaughtered, and will be tagged as "US condemned". However, the packer must still notify the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service if a cow who was previously passed during inspection for slaughter becomes disabled or injured.