Hold Placed On Westland Hallmark Meat Company Beef
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
Contact: Randy Wanke |
Hold on Westland Hallmark Meat
Company Beef
Statement from Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren
Late yesterday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) alerted the Minnesota Department of Education that beef from the Westland Hallmark Company used in the school lunch commodity food distribution program was being placed on hold status pending an investigation into the inhumane handling of non-ambulatory disabled cattle.
The following is a statement from Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren regarding that hold:
“The Minnesota Department of Education takes the health and safety of our students very seriously and, following the instructions of the USDA, we have placed a hold on all beef products from the Westland Hallmark Meat Company distributed through the food distribution commodity program.
“Based on the USDA’s recommendations, the Minnesota Department of Education is also working with local school districts to isolate the Westland Hallmark beef.
“We have alerted every Minnesota school district to the USDA’s directive to hold any Westland Hallmark beef that they may have in their possession.
“Additionally, out of an abundance of caution, we are taking the added step of identifying and contacting districts that have received the identified beef so that they can take appropriate action.”
(The USDA release can be found at: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome)
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