Beef Subject To Recall Found At Two Local School Districts

EL PASO — The massive beef recallthat has originatedwith one Californiameat processing planthas affected two local school districts.

On Monday, officials with the Socorro Independent School District confirmed a total of1,047 cases of recalled beef products from Westland Meat Packing company were found at campuses in the district.

Additionally, the El Paso Independent School District reports finding 314 cases of ground beef from the company in their schools.

Officials with both districts say they have the cases in storage, and they will not be used in school lunches.

They are awaiting further instruction on how to dispose of the beef products.

The beef recall comes after theUSDA reviewed undercover video shot by the Humane Society of America, that showed crippled and sick animals at the company being shoved with forklifts to force them to walk.

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said his department has evidence that Westland did not routinely contact its veterinarian when cattle became non-ambulatory after passing inspection, violating health regulations.

“Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection, Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall,” Schafer said in a statement.

Officials say the health threat is small and that no illnesses have been linked to the recalled meat.

Ysleta school district officials say their schools are not affected by the recall.