USDA recalls 143M pounds of beef

In the largest beef recall in U.S. history, the USDA is recalling beef products dating to Feb. 1, 2006, that came from Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., which supplies meat to the federal school lunch program and to some major fast-food chains.

The article in Newsday includes an official saying that about 37 million pounds of the recalled beef went to school programs, but they believe most of the meat probably has already been eaten.

A recall on perishable goods dating back two years? For potentially hazardous foodstuffs that have already been consumed by the innocent, unsuspecting, (and seemingly expendable) future of our nation?

Nice, isn't it? Admittedly, we all roll the dice when we entrust our health to the Fast Food restaurants, but the School Lunch Program??? Come on...

Politicians LOVE to talk about "protecting the children" - but only if they can use it as a cudgel against a member of the opposition party...

Children are more important than corporate profits, right?

Right???

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(As for the Fast Food restaurants - according to another source, McDonald's and Burger King are NOT customers of this distributor, but Jack-in-the-Box and the fabled In-N-Out Burger may have purchased Westland/Hallmark "beef" - however, no time frame was given...)


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