Of the 143 million pounds of beef that were recalled by Westland/Hallmark, about 50 million pounds went to school lunch programs as well as federal programs for the poor or elderly. The recall covered all the meat produced for two years, most of which had already been eaten.
The biggest threat from “downer” cattle, (such as the sick cows and abused documented at Westland/Hallmark) is mad cow disease. The chairman of the full committee, Representative John D. Dingell, of Michigan, said the incubation period for the human form could be 20 years.
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