|
By Bob Weaver
Calhoun's school cooks have been ordered not to use beef products linked to one of the nation's biggest meat recalls, according to Donnie Pitts, Director of Supportive Services.
"We've been given the product numbers and the staff is going through the inventory," said Pitts.
He said they have been told to destroy the beef products linked to the recall.
"Actually there is no evidence that the meat is tainted," Pitts said, but investigators are concerned that sickly cows were forced into being processed.
"We're taking every precaution, erring on the safe side," he said.
Allison Barker, coordinator of communications with the State Department of Education told the Herald she was unaware of the problem, indicating each county school system is in charge of its own food purchasing.
Pitts said it is likely some of the beef used in the county system is part of the recall, since the system uses meat through the USDA.
Taco meat, meatballs and other products from Cincinnati processor JTM Food Group might contain beef from the Hallmark-Westland Meat Packing Company in Chino, California.
Undercover video taken at the company shows workers shocking, kicking and shoving debilitated cattle with forklifts, in an attempt to force them to their feet for slaughter. The actions prompted the government to pull 143 million pounds of the company's beef.
Federal regulators call for keeping sick or injured cattle out of the food supply because they may pose a higher risk of contamination from E. coli, salmonella or mad cow disease since they often wallow in feces and their immune systems are usually weak.
"It's considered a Class II recall and the health risk is deemed low," concluded Pitts.
| 
