A California meat company has issued the largest beef recall in history, 143 million pounds, the majority of which has already been consumed. The announcement was classified as a Class II recall, indicating that the chances of health hazards are remote, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Still, the recall raises even more questions about the inspections and  treatment of cattle in slaughterhouses.  http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorThu, 20 Nov 2008 2:38:30 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/22617/new-methods-help-make-beef-jerky-safer.html?refid=rss_all_defaultGood news for meat lovers in a time of massive beef recalls: Researchers at Kansas State have found a way to make beef jerky safer from E. coli and salmonella, LiveScience reports. They found that a longer drying time would eliminate the pathogens in contaminated beef samples, offering a low-cost way for producers to comply with federal standards.http://www.newser.com/story/22617/new-methods-help-make-beef-jerky-safer.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 26 Mar 2008 16:49:03 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/21396/meat-company-chief-admits-sick-cows-were-slaughtered.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe president of the California slaughterhouse caught up in a scandal over the abuse of cattle admitted to Congress today that sick cows from his plant entered the food supply, the Los Angeles Times reports. He backtracked from an earlier denial after a House panel made him watch a second undercover video. "Obviously my system broke down," said Steve Mendell of Westland/Hallmark Meat.http://www.newser.com/story/21396/meat-company-chief-admits-sick-cows-were-slaughtered.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 12 Mar 2008 14:25:26 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/20337/cattle-horror-worker-just-following-orders.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA worker shown in a shocking undercover video jabbing apparently sick cows to their feet for slaughter was following orders from management, his lawyer said yesterday. The attorney made the accusation as he negotiated with federal investigators to work out a plea deal for his client, reports the Wall Street Journal. The video triggered a record recall of 143 million pounds of beef from the Hallmark/Westland California operation because such "downer" cows can be a source of mad cow disease.http://www.newser.com/story/20337/cattle-horror-worker-just-following-orders.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 29 Feb 2008 2:45:13 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/19842/disgraced-meatpacker-to-close-doors.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe biggest meat recall in history will put a fork in Hallmark/Westland, the meatpacker’s general manager told the Wall Street Journal. “I don’t see any way we could reopen,” he said. The USDA has said the California company could reopen under the right conditions, but demands that it pay for the meat’s destruction and replacement. “If the USDA wants payment back, we’re dead meat. We’re done.”http://www.newser.com/story/19842/disgraced-meatpacker-to-close-doors.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 23 Feb 2008 11:29:59 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/19747/meat-industry-pushes-for-recall-cutback.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe meat industry is trying to convince the USDA to ease up on the largest meat recall in the country's history, the Wall Street Journal reports. Government officials entertained the possibility of exempting products made up only partly of the recalled beef but apparently decided against relaxing the action. “The recall is as it was issued,” said a spokeswoman.http://www.newser.com/story/19747/meat-industry-pushes-for-recall-cutback.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 22 Feb 2008 7:01:33 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/19717/meat-safety-at-risk-warn-overwhelmed-inspectors.html?refid=rss_all_defaultGovernment inspectors say staff shortages are making it impossible for them to do their jobs properly and that sick cows could be getting into the food supply, reports AP. With staffing levels so low, inspectors are forced to quickly scan hundreds of animals to spot signs of illness like drooping ears, while slaughterhouse workers who warn each other with walkie-talkies try to steer them away from problem areas.http://www.newser.com/story/19717/meat-safety-at-risk-warn-overwhelmed-inspectors.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 22 Feb 2008 0:04:43 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/65069/school-officials-think-risk-from-beef-recall-is-low.html?refid=rss_all_default143 million pounds of frozen ground beef was recalled nationally over the weekend. And 40,000 pounds of it was delivered to Vermont schools and child care centers.http://www.newser.com/story/65069/school-officials-think-risk-from-beef-recall-is-low.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 21 Feb 2008 11:36:39 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/19577/picky-eater-decodes-the-beef-scare.html?refid=rss_all_defaultDon't fault slaughterhouse workers for this week's enormous beef recall, author and foodie Michael Pollan tells Newsweek —it's the system. Blinding-fast production lines that expect workers to slaughter up to seven cows per minute do not a safe or ethical steak make. "It's one of those episodes that peels back the curtain on how our food is prepared," Pollan says.http://www.newser.com/story/19577/picky-eater-decodes-the-beef-scare.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 21 Feb 2008 11:05:52 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/65066/senators-ask-probe-in-big-beef-recall.html?refid=rss_all_defaultLawmakers turned up the heat on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Tuesday for gaps in animal inspection at a Southern California slaughterhouse that necessitated a recall of 143 million pounds of beef, the largest beef recall in U.S. history.http://www.newser.com/story/65066/senators-ask-probe-in-big-beef-recall.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 21 Feb 2008 11:34:51 CST