USDA Probing Possible California Slaughterhouse Recall
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to determine whether downed, sick animals entered the food supply at a Central California slaughterhouse it shut down Monday after an undercover video revealed what it considered inhumane slaughter practices.
Spokesman Justin DeJong says the USDA is first trying to determine whether "additional steps would be needed." He says those steps would include whether to recall of the company's meat products.
The USDA suspended operations at Central Valley Meat Co. in Hanford, Calif., after receiving hours of videotape Friday from Compassion Over Killing, an animal welfare group.
The video shows live cows dangled by their legs and others being repeatedly shot in the head with a pneumatic gun in unsuccessful efforts to render them unconscious for slaughter.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
