This is a 3 minute video created by Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). WARNING: This video contains graphic footage and very hard to watch. An HSUS investigation reveals one of the leading suppliers of the national school lunch program is permitting sick and injured dairy cows to enter the food supply. Please sign the HSUS petition to the USDA to stop these heinous crimes. Thank you!
This company is guilty of inhumane handling of these animals and gross mistreatment that violates the law! The Hallmark Meat Packing company in Chino, CA SHOULD be SHUT down and FINED heavily!!! Where were our food regulators??? FDA? USDA? Shame on YOU for NOT doing your job that WE the taxpayers pay you to do! This company has the audacity to display their awards they received as "Supplier of the YEAR" 2004 and 2005! Shame on you! This is another perfect example of people and companies NOT having any conscience! DISGUSTING
The Los Angeles Times wrote an article today titled, "Hard to Stomach". The following are a few excerpts:
It was upsetting enough to hear that animals had been abused by slaughterhouse employees in Chino; far worse to think that a meat producer was willing to send beef from "downer" cattle into the food supply -- to public schools, no less. There always will be a certain number of bad operations looking to break the rules. But there's a government agency assigned to catch and stop them. Where was the U.S. Department of Agriculture?
The abuses at Hallmark Meat Packing were uncovered by the Humane Society of the United States, not by the USDA. And this isn't the first time it took outsiders to act on food issues. In 2003, a law firm successfully sued to force supermarkets to label the farmed salmon they sold as artificially colored; the Food and Drug Administration requires the labeling but admitted that it does not enforce the rule. More recently, a nonprofit public advocacy group and then the New York Times tested tuna sushi at restaurants and found levels of mercury that exceeded FDA standards.
Ten years ago, consumer watchdogs complained because the FDA was inspecting only about 2% of imported food. Now it's 1%. Too few FDA inspectors have been trying to stay on top of too many tainted products from China alone -- pet food, toothpaste, fish.
It's time for a little self-questioning alarm at the agencies that are supposed to ensure food quality. Instead, they show a disconcerting level of complacency...... go to article to read more
5 comments:
"Where were our food regulators??? FDA?"
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Well, that's an easy one to answer!
The FDA keeps itself quite busy looking over the shoulder of companies that make medical equipment.
I work for a small medical equipment manufacturer, and we Engineers spend AT LEAST half our time documenting things just in case the FDA decides to drop in for an audit.
While they certainly need to ensure the safety of hospital patients, nobody who is reading this would believe the level of scrutiny that we are under.
Oh, does this sure drive up the cost of your visit to the doctor!
The FDA has the power to just walk in here and padlock the doors any that they want - and this is what happened to another local firm called Physio Control last year. (Google if you want to read up on it).
Physio Control makes heart defillibrators, and they were shut down because the FDA didn't like their documentation system. (Even though they also sell their product overseas, and none of these country's regulatory agencies had a problem with it.)
So, over 400 people were thrown out of work.
Meanwhile, the FDA looks the other way while China, Chile and other countries send their poison-laden food to the US. Did you know that although we can not use DDT here in the US, we still make it and sell it to other countries - who are legally permitted to spray their crips and sell them to us?
Sorry, I tried to answer a simple question and ended up in a rant. Oh well, now you know one more portion of the TRUTH.
-Mammoth
No don't stop. I like it when you rant ;)
I've been stuck on what to write next. There is sooooo much happening all over the world. I once again became overwhelmed...
I call this analysis paralysis LOL!
Anyhoo, you have just given me a brilliant topic of corporate ethics. After reading your story, I think the FDA deserves its very own post, don't you. They sound very corrupt.
Thank you Mammoth!!!
Happy Valentine's Day, Princess!
You have a good feel for tracking the 'pulse' of the positive things that are happening in this world.
As I tend to look on the gloomy side of things, I admire people like you who somehow remain upbeat, despite all the BS which we all have to put up with in this world.
I remember there was a course offered in college called "Business Ethics." Combining those two words together seems like an oxymoron.
What is interesting on HP these days, is a cultural shift, in which it is now acceptable to just walk away from one's debts. One rationale for this is that if businesses can jerk the rug out from underneath people by laying them off (when it is in their interest to do so), then why can't people make the 'business decision' to just quit paying on their debts?
Yet nobody on HP appears to grasp just how damaging it will be if everyone adopts this attitude.
Re: your comment that the FDA is corrupt, I must say that I disagree. Rather, (IMHO) the FDA is just another incompetent government agency.
It is easier for them to dissect manufacturers of medical equipment because that is what they are set up to do. Apparently they are not set up, nor adequately staffed, to inspect a larger portion of the food that is imported, which has increased tremendously in recent years.
Here is what my crystal ball says: Some time within the next few years there will be some contaminated imported food that will kill perhaps a few dozen Americans. And then the FDA will finally become serious about inspecting imported food.
Because as many, many examples have already shown you, our government and its agencies are not proactive, they are reactive. Kinda like closing the barn door after the horse got out.
Enough about that for now. I appreciate your blog, although let me confess that I do not watch the videos; I prefer to read your own words instead.
Thank you for sharing your warmth, Princess!
-Andrew
Happy Valentine's Day to you to Mammoth!
I should be thanking you for always steering me when I'm stuck on what to write next. You're always on time and on target. I believe this is God working through you to speak to me and give me that nudge I need. ;)
"Combining those two words together seems like an oxymoron." LOLOL! That has been the sad truth.
Yeah, I agree, the culture on HP has shifted. A new group of people has entered HP. It is unethical to walk away from your debt. The person borrowed the money and ought to pay it back. Nevertheless, I actually believe that this mindset was created by the 'Power's that BE' who set this example.
Thanks for enlightening me regarding the FDA. You're absolutely right. I'm still working on that post. Your thoughts on this issue have given me more content for my post.
I'm glad you shared not watching the videos. I will now try to type transcripts for each post. The videos I post are very informative and enlightening. This would be a good thing too for my foreign readers who use BableFish to translate.
I too will continue to express myself more. ;)
Have a great day Andrew!!!
As for me always being upbeat, I have my moment of tears. That is when God covers me in a blanket of reassurance that everything WILL be okay.
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