In the most massive action to date the USDA announced a voluntary recall involving nearly 143 million pounds of ground beef. The Westland Hallmark Company issued the recall after USDA inspectors found Clear Violations, at the company slaughterhouse in California.

New York - In the most massive action to date the USDA announced a voluntary recall involving nearly 143 million pounds of ground beef. The Westland Hallmark Company issued the recall after USDA inspectors found “Clear Violations,” at the company slaughterhouse in California.

The recall on Sunday was a Class II USDA voluntary recall, and there has not been any direct link found between this batch of recalled meat and illness. USDA authorities state that the possibility of illness is “remote” but the company is not taking any chances.

The recall involved 143 million pounds of beef. This is an amount that is roughly equal to two hamburgers for every person in the United States. This type of meat product has a typical short shelf life, and may have been already consumed for the most part.

“It is not known what if any of this product still remains in circulation at this time,” said Dick Raymond. Mr. Raymond is with the USDA as Undersecretary of Food Safety. “The meat was produced in violation of our USDA guidelines, and so the recall is necessary,” said Mr. Raymond.
The amount of meat being recalled, 143 million pounds makes the recall issued Sunday by Westland Hallmark Meat the largest recall of beef in United States History. USDA inspectors found that cattle that had lost their ability to walk following an initial inspection were being processed and slaughtered without any further inspection.

This is in direct violation to USDA policies and procedures, and led to the recall. Cattle that are downed or off their feet often have weakened immune systems, and can be susceptible to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or Mad Cow Disease.